Adamantyl acetamides as 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein n represents an integer being 1 or 2; R 1  and R 2  each independently represents hydrogen C 1-4 alkyl, NR 9 R 10 , C 1-4 alkyloxy; or R 1  and R 2  taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C 3-6 cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R 1  or R 2  may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R 3  represents a C 6-12 cycloalkyl, preferably selected from cylo-octanyl and cyclohexyl or R 3  represents a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae  
                 
 
                 
 
wherein said C 6-12 cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; Q represents Het 1  or Ar 2  wherein said C 3-8 cycloalkyl, Het 1  or Ar 2  are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from halo, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, NR 5 R 6 , C 1-4 alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two, three or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het 2  and NR 7 R 8 , and C 1-4 alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo substituents, preferably trifluoromethyl; R 5  and R 6  each independently represent hydrogen, C 1-4 alkyl, or C 1-4 alkyl substituted with phenyl; R 7  and R 8  each independently represent hydrogen or C 1-4 alkyl; R 9  and R 10  each independently represent hydrogen, C 1-4 alkyl or C 1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl; L represents C 1-4 alkyl; Het 1  represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, thiophenyl, or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het 2  represents piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; Ar 2  represents phenyl, naphtyl or indenyl.

The metabolic syndrome is a disease with increasing prevalence not only in the Western world but also in Asia and developing countries. It is characterised by obesity in particular central or visceral obesity, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart diseases and eventually chronic renal failure (C. T. Montague et al. (2000), Diabetes, 49, 883-888).

Glucocorticoids and 11β-HSD1 are known to be important factors in differentiation of adipose stromal cells into mature adipocytes. In the visceral stromal cells of obese patients, 11β-HSD1 mRNA level is increased compared with subcutaneous tissue. Further, adipose tissue over-expression of 11β-HSD1 in transgenic mice is associated with increased corticosterone levels in the adipose tissue, visceral obesity, insulin sensitivity, Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hyperphagia (H. Masuzaki et al (2001), Science, 294, 2166-2170). Therefore, 11β-HSD1 is most likely be involved in the development of visceral obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

Inhibition of 11β-HSD1 results in a decrease in differentiation and an increase in proliferation of adipose stromal cells. Moreover, glucocorticoid deficiency (adrenalectomy) enhances the ability of insulin and leptin to promote anorexia and weight loss, and this effect is reversed by glucocorticoid administration (P. M. Stewart et al (2002), Trends Endocrin. Metabol, 13, 94-96). These data suggest that enhanced reactivation of cortisone by 11β-HSD1 may exacerbate obesity and it may be beneficial to inhibit this enzyme in adipose tissue of obese patients.

Obesity is also linked to cardiovascular risks. There is a significant relationship between cortisol excretion rate and HDL cholesterol in both men and women, suggesting that glucocorticoids regulate key components of cardiovascular risk. In analogy, aortic stiffness is also associated with visceral adiposity in older adults.

Glucocorticoids and Glaucoma

Glucocorticoids increase the risk of glaucoma by raising the intraocular pressure when administered exogenously and in certain conditions of increased production like in Cushing's syndrome. Corticosteroid-induced elevation of intra ocular pressure is caused by increased resistance to aqueous outflow due to glucocorticoid induced changes in the trabecular meshwork and its intracellular matrix. Zhou et al. (Int J Mol Med (1998) 1, 339-346) also reported that corticosteroids increase the amounts of fibronectin as well as collagen type I and type IV in the trabecular meshwork of organ-cultured bovine anterior segments.

11β-HSD1 is expressed in the basal cells of the corneal epithelium and the non-pigmented epithelial cells. Glucocorticoid receptor mRNA was only detected in the trabecular meshwork, whereas in the non-pigmented epithelial cells mRNA for the glucocorticoid-, mineralocorticoid receptor and 11β-HSD1 was present. Carbenoxolone administration to patients resulted in a significant decrease in intra-ocular pressure (S. Rauz et al. (2001), Invest. Ophtalmol. Vis. Science, 42, 2037-2042), suggesting a role for HSD 1-inhibitors in treating glaucoma.

Accordingly, the underlying problem to be solved by the present invention was to identify potent 11β-HSD inhibitors, with a high selectivity for 11β-HSD1, and the use thereof in treating pathologies associated with excess cortisol formation such as obesity, diabetes, obesity related cardiovascular diseases, and glaucoma.

This invention concerns compounds of formula (I)

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

-   n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; -   m represents an integer being 0 or 1; -   R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, Het³-O—C₁₋₄alkyl; or -   R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached form a carbonyl, or a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2,     either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; -   R³ represents hydrogen, Ar¹, C₁₋₈alkyl, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a     monovalent radical having one of the following formulae -    wherein said Ar¹, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may     optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two or three     substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo, carbonyl, 1,3-dioxolyl or hydroxy;     in particular R³ represents a monovalent radical having formula a)     or b) optionally substituted with one, or where possible two or     three substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo, carbonyl, 1,3-dioxolyl or hydroxy; -   R⁴ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, or C₂₋₄alkenyl; -   Q represents C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar², wherein said     C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or     where possible more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy,     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy     substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents     each independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxycarbonyl, Het²,     C₁₋₄alkyl or NR⁷R⁸, -    C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from     phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl     or Het⁵-carbonyl, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where     possible two or three substituents independently selected from halo,     dimethylamine, trimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; -   R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl,     C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or     three substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl,     and C₁₋₄alkyloxy or R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl     substituted with phenyl; -   R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen or     C₁₋₄alkyl; -   R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl     or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; -   L represents C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with one or where     possible more substituents selected from C₁₋₄alkyl or phenyl; -   Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, piperinidyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl,     isoindolyl, indolinyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl,     isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, benzothiophenyl, thiophenyl,     1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl,     phthalazinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl,     2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or     1,3-benzodioxolyl; -   Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl,     pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl,     2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or     morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or     where possible two or more substituents each independently selected     from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from 2H-pyranyl,     4H-pyranyl, furanyl, tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl,     or furanyl; -   Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazolyl,     tetrazolyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁴ optionally being substituted     with one or where possible two or more substituents each     idependently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or     C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Het⁵ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het⁵ optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,     carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; in particular piperazinyl or     morpholinyl; -   Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,     carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het⁷ optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,     carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; in particular selected     piperazinyl or morpholinyl; -   Ar¹ represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings     selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl, indenyl,     2,3-dihydroindenyl, fluorenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphtyl or naphthyl -   Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings     selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl,     benzocyclobutenyl, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, indenyl,     2,3-dihydroindenyl, fluorenyl, 1,2-dihydronaphthyl,     5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl.

As used in the foregoing definitions and hereinafter, halo is generic to fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo; C₁₋₄alkyl defines straight and branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 1-methylethyl, 2-methylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylethyl and the like; C₁₋₈alkyl defines straight and branched chain saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms such as the groups defined for C₍₁₋₄₎alkyl and pentyl, hexyl, octyl, 2-methylbutyl 2-methylpentyl, 2,2-dimethylpentyl and the like; C₃₋₆cycloalkyl is generic to cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl is generic to cycloheptyl and cyclo-octanyl, cyclononane, cyclodecane, cycloundecane and cyclododecane; C₁₋₄alkyloxy defines straight or branched saturated hydrocarbon radicals such as methoxy, ethoxy, propyloxy, butyloxy, 1-methylethyloxy, 2-methylpropyloxy and the like.

As used herein before, the terms oxo or carbonyl refers to (═O) that forms a carbonyl moiety with the carbon atom to which it is attached.

The pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid addition salt forms, which the compounds of formula (I), are able to form. The latter can conveniently be obtained by treating the base form with such appropriate acid. Appropriate acids comprise, for example, inorganic acids such as hydrohalic acids, e.g. hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid; sulfuric; nitric; phosphoric and the like acids; or organic acids such as, for example, acetic, propanoic, hydroxyacetic, lactic, pyruvic, oxalic, malonic, succinic (i.e. butanedioic acid), maleic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, citric, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, cyclamic, salicylic, p-aminosalicylic, pamoic and the like acids.

The pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic base addition salt forms which the compounds of formula (I), are able to form. Examples of such base addition salt forms are, for example, the sodium, potassium, calcium salts, and also the salts with pharmaceutically acceptable amines such as, for example, ammonia, alkylamines, benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, hydrabamine, amino acids, e.g. arginine, lysine.

Conversely said salt forms can be converted by treatment with an appropriate base or acid into the free acid or base form.

The term addition salt as used hereinabove also comprises the solvates which the compounds of formula (I), as well as the salts thereof, are able to form. Such solvates are for example hydrates, alcoholates and the like.

The term stereochemically isomeric forms as used hereinbefore defines the possible different isomeric as well as conformational forms which the compounds of formula (I), may possess. Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of compounds denotes the mixture of all possible stereochemically and conformationally isomeric forms, said mixtures containing all diastereomers, enantiomers and/or conformers of the basic molecular structure. All stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I), both in pure form or in admixture with each other are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present invention.

The N-oxide forms of the compounds of formula (I), are meant to comprise those compounds of formula (I) wherein one or several nitrogen atoms are oxidized to the so-called N-oxide.

An interesting group of compounds consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply:

-   (i) n represents an integer being 1 or 2 provided that when n     represents 2, Q represents Het¹ or Ar², wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are     optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents     selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴,     phenyl, phenyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted     with one or where possible two or three substituents each     independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, and -    C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo     substituents; -   (ii) R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl,     NR⁹R¹⁰, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, Het³-O—C₁₋₄alkyl; or -    R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached form a carbonyl, or a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; -   (iii) R³ represents phenyl, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical     having one of the following formulae -    wherein said phenyl, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may     optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two or three     substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo, carbonyl, phenyl or hydroxy; in particular R³     represents a monovalent radical having formula a) or b) optionally     substituted with one, or where possible two or three substituents     selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo,     carbonyl, phenyl or hydroxy; -   (iv) R⁴ represents hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (v) Q represents Het¹ or Ar², wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are     optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents     selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴,     phenyl, phenyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted     with one or where possible two or three substituents each     independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and     NR⁷R⁸, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or     three halo substituents; -   (vi) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from piperinidyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl,     isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl,     1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinazolinyl, phthalazinyl,     or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; -   (vii) Ar² represents phenyl or naphtyl optionally substituted with     C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy or halo; preferably substituted with methyl     or methoxy.

Another interesting group of compounds consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply:

-   (i) R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl,     NR⁹R¹⁰; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which     they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹     or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; -   (ii) R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having     one of the following formulae -    wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally     be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more     substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo, carbonyl, hydroxy, or 1,3-dioxolyl; in     particular R³ represents a monovalent radical having formula a)     or b) optionally substituted with one, or where possible two or     three substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo, carbonyl, or hydroxy; -   (iii) Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are     optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more     substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy,     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, Het⁴, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one     or where possible two or three substituents each independently     selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, C₂₋₄alkenyl     substituted with one substituent selected from     phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl or Het⁵-carbonyl and -    C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three     substituents each independently selected from halo, dimethylamine,     amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; -   (iv) R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen,     C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one     or where possible two or three halo substituents. -   (v) R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen or     C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (vi) L represents a C₁₋₄alkyl, preferably methyl; -   (vii) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl,     pyrimidinyl, indolyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, quinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl,     3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 2H-benzothiopyranyl,     3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; -   (viii) Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from     piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het² optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more C₁₋₄alkyl substituents; -   (ix) Het⁴ represents tetrazolyl; -   (x) Het⁵ represents morpholinyl; -   (xi) Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from     pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁶ optionally being     substituted with one or where possible two or more hydroxy     substituents, preferably with one hydroxy substituent; -   (xii) Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from     piperazinyl or morpholinyl, preferably morpholinyl; -   (xiii) Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more     rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl,     benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, indenyl,     2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl.

A particular group of compounds of formula (I) were those compounds shown to be highly HSD 1 specific. For these compounds of formula (I) one or more of the following restrictions apply:

-   (i) n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; -   (ii) R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl,     NR⁹R¹⁰; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which     they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹     or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; -   (iii) R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably cylo-octanyl or a     monovalent radical having one of the following formulae -    , preferably having the formula (a) or (b) above, wherein said     C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted     with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected     from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or     hydroxy; preferably having the formula a) above optionally     substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; -   (iv) Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are     optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more     substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy,     NR⁵R⁶, -    C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two, three or     more substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl,     Het² or NR⁷R⁸, C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected     from phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl or Het⁵-carbonyl -    and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three     substituents selected from halo, Het⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or     hydroxycarbonyl; -   (v) R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (vi) R⁹ and R¹⁰ each independently represent hydrogen or     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; -   (vii) L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (viii) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl,     piperidinyl, thiophenyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl,     3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or     1,3-benzodioxol; -   (ix) Het² represents pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; -   (x) Het⁶ represents morpholinyl; -   (xi) Ar² represents phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl,     benzosuberenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl,     naphtyl or indenyl.

A subgroup of these highly HSD1 specific inhibitors was shown to have a superior cellular activity and consist of compounds of formulae (I) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply

-   (i) n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; -   (ii) R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl; or -    R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R²     may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; -   (iii) R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably cylo-octanyl or a     monovalent radical having one of the following formulae -    , in particular having the formula (a) or (b) above, wherein said     C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted     with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected     from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or     hydroxy; preferably having the formula a) above optionally     substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; -   (iv) Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are     optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more     substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy,     NR⁵R⁶, -    C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two, three or     more substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl,     Het² and NR⁷R⁸, -    C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one Het⁵-carbonyl -    and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three     substituents selected from halo, Het⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or     hydroxycarbonyl; -   (v) R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (vi) L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (vii) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl,     piperidinyl, thiophenyl, 2H-benzopyranyl,     3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or     1,3-benzodioxol; -   (viii) Het² represents pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; -   (ix) Het⁵ represents morpholinyl; -   (x) Het⁶ represents morpholinyl; -   (xi) Het⁷ represents morpholinyl; -   (ix) Ar² represents phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl,     benzosuberenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl, naphtyl or indenyl.

Further interesting compounds according to the invention are those compounds of formulae (I) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply

-   (i) n represents an integer being 1 or 2; -   (ii) R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl,     NR⁹R¹⁰, C₁₋₄alkyloxy; or -    R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R²     may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; -   (iii) R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably selected from     cylo-octanyl and cyclohexyl or R³ represents a monovalent radical     having one of the following formulae -    wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally     be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more     substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; in particular having the formula (a)     or (b) above, wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may     optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or     more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; preferably having the formula a)     above optionally substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or     hydroxy; -   (iv) Q represents C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar² wherein said     C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or     where possible two or more substituents selected from halo,     C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy     substituted with one or where possible two, three or more     substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het²     and NR⁷R⁸, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two     or three halo substituents, preferably trifluoromethyl; -   (v) R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, or     C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with phenyl; -   (vi) L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (vii) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl,     piperidinyl, or thiophenyl; -   (viii) Het² represents piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; -   (ix) Ar² represents phenyl, naphtyl or indenyl.

A particular group of compounds of formula (I) are those where one or more of the following restrictions apply:

-   (i) n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; -   (ii) R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl,     NR⁹R¹⁰, C₁₋₄alkyloxy; or -    R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R²     may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; -   (iii) R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably selected from     cylo-octanyl and cyclohexyl or R³ represents a monovalent radical     having one of the following formulae -    preferably having the formula (a) above, wherein said     C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted     with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected     from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or     hydroxy; -   (iv) R⁴ represents hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (v) Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or     Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or     more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy,     hydroxy, nitro, NR⁵R⁶, -    C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two, three or     more substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl,     Het² or NR⁷R⁸, C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with     phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or     where possible two or three substituents selected from, halo, Het⁶,     Het⁷-carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; -   (vi) R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, or     C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with phenyl; -   (vii) L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (viii) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl,     thiophenyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl,     3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; -   (ix) Het² represents piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; -   (x) Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from     piperazinyl or morpholinyl, preferably morpholinyl; -   (xi) Ar² represents phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl,     benzosuberenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 1,2-dihydronaphthyl,     5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl, naphtyl or indenyl.

A preferred group of compounds consists of those compounds of formula (I) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply:

-   (i) Q represents phenyl, said phenyl optionally substituted with one     or two substituents selected from the halo, preferably chloro or     fluor, or C₁₋₄alkyloxy preferably methoxy; -   (ii) n is 1; -   (iii) m is 0; -   (iv) R¹ and R² represent C₁₋₄alkyl, preferably methyl; or -    R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, preferably cyclopropyl; -   (v) R⁴ represents hydrogen; -   (vi) R³ represents a monovalent radical having one of the following     formulae     wherein said monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with     one or where possible two or three substituents selected from halo,     carbonyl, hydroxy or C₁₋₄alkyloxy, preferably methoxy, in particular     R³ represents a monovalent radical having the formula (a) or (b)     above optionally substituted with one, or where possible two, three     or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo,     carbonyl, hydroxy or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; preferably having the formula a)     above optionally substituted with hydroxy or C₁₋₄alkyloxy,     preferably methoxy.

Also of interest are those compounds of formula (I) wherein one ore more of the following restrictions apply;

-   (i) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from piperinidyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl,     isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl,     1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinazolinyl, phthalazinyl,     or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; -   (ii) Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are     optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more     substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy,     NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two,     three or more substituents each independently selected from     hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one     or where possible two or three halo substituents; or Q represents     phenyl, said phenyl optionally substituted with one or two     substituents selected from the halo, preferably chloro or fluor, or     C₁₋₄alkyloxy preferably methoxy; -   (iii) n represents an integer being 1 or 2; or n is 1; -   (iv) m is 0; -   (v) R¹ and R² represent hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, preferably     C₁₋₄alkyl, in particular methyl; or -    R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, preferably cyclopropyl; and where n     is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated double     bond -   (vi) R⁴ represents hydrogen; -   (vii) R³ represents a monovalent radical having one of the following     formulae -    wherein said monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with     one or where possible two or three substituents selected from halo,     carbonyl, hydroxy or C₁₋₄alkyloxy, preferably methoxy; or -    R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably cylo-octanyl or a     monovalent radical having one of the following formulae -    wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally     be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more     substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; or -    R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having one     of the following formulae -    wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally     be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more     substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; -    preferably R³ represents a monovalent radical having one of the     following formulae -    wherein said monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with     one or where possible two or three substituents selected from halo,     carbonyl, hydroxy or C₁₋₄alkyloxy, preferably a substituent selected     from bromo, fluoro, chloro, hydroxy or methoxy; even more preferably     those compounds wherein the R³ substituent is 2-adamantyl optionally     substituted with one, or where possible two or three substituents     selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo,     oxo, carbonyl or hydroxy, preferably a substituent selected from     bromo, fluoro, chloro, hydroxy or methoxy; -   (viii) R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (ix) R⁹ and R¹⁰ each independently represent hydrogen or     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; -   (x) L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; -   (xi) Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl,     piperidinyl, thiophenyl or 1,3-benzodioxol; -   (xii) Het² represents pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; -   (xiii) Ar² represents phenyl, naphtyl or indenyl.

A particular group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R³ is optionally substituted 2-adamantyl and wherein Q represents an optionally substituted phenyl, hereinafter referred to as the compounds of formula (I′)

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof wherein

-   R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy or -   Het³-O—C₁₋₄alkyl; preferably C₁₋₄alkyl in particular methyl; or -   R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are     attached from a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, in particular cyclopropyl or     cyclobutyl; -   R⁴ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₂₋₄alkenyl; -   U represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo,     carbonyl or hydroxy -   R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl,     C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or     three substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl,     and C₁₋₄alkyloxy or R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl     substituted with phenyl; -   R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen or     C₁₋₄alkyl; -   R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl     or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; -   R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently selected from hydrogen, halo,     C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy,     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy     substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents     each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸,     C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from     phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl,     Het⁵-carbonyl, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible     two or three substituents independently selected from halo,     dimethylamine, trimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; -   Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, piperinidyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl,     isoindolyl, indolinyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl,     isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, benzothiophenyl, thiophenyl,     1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl,     phthalazinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl,     2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or     1,3-benzodioxolyl; -   Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl,     pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl,     2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or     morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or     where possible two or more substituents each independently selected     from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from 2H-pyranyl,     4H-pyranyl, furanyl, tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl,     or furanyl; -   Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazolyl,     tetrazolyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁴ optionally being substituted     with one or where possible two or more substituents each     independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or     C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Het⁵ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het⁵ optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,     carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; preferably piperazinyl or     morpholinyl; -   Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,     carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het⁷ optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy,     carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; preferably piperazinyl or     morpholinyl; in particular morpholinyl.

Also of interest are those compounds of formula (I′) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply;

-   (i) R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxy; preferably methyl or methoxy; -   (ii) R⁴ represents hydrogen; -   (iii) U represents hydrogen, hydroxy or halo, in particular     hydrogen, hydroxy, fluoro or chloro; -   (iv) R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen,     C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, or     C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with halo; -   (v) R⁷ and R⁸ represent C₁₋₄alkyl, preferably methyl; -   (vi) R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently selected from hydrogen,     C₁₋₄alkyl, such as in particular methyl or propyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy,     hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or     where possible two or three substituents each independently selected     from hydroxycarbonyl, Het², C₁₋₄alkyl or NR⁷R⁸, C₂₋₄alkenyl     substituted with one substituent selected from     phenylC₁₋₄alkyloxy-carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl     or Het⁵-carbonyl, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where     possible two or three substituents independently selected from halo,     dimethylamine, trimethylamine, amine, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl or     hydroxycarbonyl; -   (vii) Het² represents piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl or     morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with C₁₋₄alkyl,     in particular methyl; -   (viii) Het⁴ represents tetrazolyl; -   (ix) Het⁵ represents morpholinyl; -   (x) Het⁶ represents pyridazinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl, said     Het⁴ optionally being substituted with carbonyl or C₁₋₄alkyl.

Also of interest are those compounds of formula (I″)

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

-   R⁴ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₂₋₄alkenyl; -   U represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo,     carbonyl or hydroxy -   Q represents Het¹ or Ar², wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally     substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected     from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl,     phenyloxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, -    C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three     substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het²     and NR⁷R⁸, and -    C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three     substituents independently selected from halo or hydroxycarbonyl; -   R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl,     C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl,     C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or     three substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl,     and C₁₋₄alkyloxy or R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl     substituted with phenyl; -   R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen or     C₁₋₄alkyl; -   R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl     or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; -   Het¹ represents a bicyclic heterocycle selected from indolyl,     isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl,     1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,     1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl,     phthalazinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl,     2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or     1,3-benzodioxolyl; -   Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl,     pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl,     2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or     morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or     where possible two or more substituents each independently selected     from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from 2H-pyranyl,     4H-pyranyl, furanyl, tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl,     or furanyl; -   Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl,     pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl,     said Het⁴ optionally being substituted with one or where possible     two or more substituents each idependently selected from hydroxy,     carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; -   Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing two rings selected     from the group consisting of benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl,     benzosurbenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl,     5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphtyl or naphthyl.

A further group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I″) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply;

-   (i) U represents hydrogen, halo or hydroxy; -   (ii) Q represents Het¹ or Ar², wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are     optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more     substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy,     C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, -    C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with hydroxycarbonyl, and -    C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with hydroxycarbonyl; -   (iii) Het¹ represents a bicyclic heterocycle selected from     benzothiophenyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl,     isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl,     3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, or 2H-benzothiopyranyl; -   (iv) Ar² represents benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl,     benzosuberenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl or     5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl.

The amide compounds of this invention can be prepared by any of several standard synthetic processes commonly used by those skilled in the art of organic chemistry and described for instance in; “Introduction to organic chemistry” Streitweiser and Heathcock—Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.—second edition—New York—Section 24.7 (part A) p 753-756. In general, the amides can be prepared through a base-catalyzed nucleophilic addition between the appropriate carboxylic acid with the corresponding amine (scheme 1), or via a nucleophilic substitution reaction wherein the appropriate amine reacts with either the corresponding acyl halide (scheme 2), anhydride or ester, to yield the required amide.

When coupling the acids to the amines, standard chemical coupling reagents such as carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), 1.3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) or 1-ethyl-3-(3′-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCl) are used in the presence or absence of hydroxybenzotrialzole (HOBt). In general, adding of the carboxylic acids of formula (III) to the amines of formula (II) under base-catalyzed reaction conditions results in the formation of the amine salt which is in equilibrium with its weak acid and base. To force the equilibrium to the formation of the amide of formula (I), a dehydrogenating agent such as carbodiimides, for example DCC and CDI are added to the reaction mixture.

In an alternative embodiment the carboxylic acids or converted into the corresponding acyl halides by reaction with, for example, thionyl chloride or oxalyl chloride. Subsequently said acyl halide (V) is added to the amine of formula (II) to yield the amide of formula (I) using art known reaction procedures such as the Schotten-Baumann method.

The carboxylic acids of formula (III) and the amines of formula (II) are readily available, or may be prepared using methods that are well known in the art. Many compounds are commercially available, for example, from Aldrich Chemicals, or when the compounds are not commercially available, they may be readily prepared from available precursors using straightforward transformations that are well known in the art.

For example the carboxylic acids are most often prepared by hydrolysis of nitrites (scheme 3), carbonation of organometallic compounds or oxidation of primary alcohols or aldehydes, see for instance in; “Introduction to organic chemistry” Streitweiser and Heathcock—Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.—second edition—New York—Section 19.6 p 509-511. In particular the carboxylic acids of formula (III) are prepared from the corresponding (hetero)aryl acetonitriles (VI) by conversion to the dialkyl or spiroalkyl derivative (VII) using e.g., sodium hexamethyldisilazane and methyl iodide or dibromobutane (see e.g., Trivedi et al, J. Med. Chem. 1993, 36, 3300), followed by hydrolysis under acidic or basic conditions to the desired carboxylic acid III. Appropriate acids and bases in the hydrolysis are for example H₂SO₄ and KOH. The hydrolysis reaction can be conveniently performed using microwave heating. Many of the nitrites of formula (VI) are commercially available, or when they are not available they may be readily prepared from available (hetero)aryl-methyl derivatives (X) under art known conditions, for example by bromination using N-bromo-succinamide (NBS) followed by substitution of bromine by CN using, for example KCN.

In many cases the carboxylic acids wherein Q represents a bromo-substituted aryl (III-A) were further modified according to reaction scheme 4. In a first step the bromo substituent was modified using the Heck reaction with acrylic esters, amides or acrylonitrile to obtain compounds of formula (XII). Reduction of double bond and functional groups yielded substituted amines of formula (XIV).

For those compounds of formula (I) where Q represents carbocyclic radicals containing two rings, the appropriate bicyclic carboxylic acids of formula (III-B) were synthesised, for example, by addition of trimethylsilylcyanide to corresponding ketones (XV) followed by acidic or basic hydrolysis of nitrile compounds (XVI) using standard conditions. Ketones, which were not available, were synthesised by intramolecular cyclisation of corresponding acids (XVIII) (see scheme 5).

The amines of formula (II) are generally prepared using art known techniques, see for instance in; “Introduction to organic chemistry” Streitweiser and Heathcock—Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.—second edition—New York—Section 24.6 p 742-753, and comprise synthesis through indirect alkylation of the appropriate (hetero)aryl halides in particular by the Gabriel synthesis, through reduction of the corresponding nitro or nitrille compounds, through reductive amination using for example the Eschweiler-Clarke reaction and in particular through the reduction of oximes (IX) which may be prepared from aldehydes or ketones (VIII) by reaction with hydroxylamine (scheme 6). In this latter case the oximes are reduced by lithium aluminium hydride or catalytic hydrogenation using an appropriate catalysator such as Raney Nickel, said reduction being performed in an inert anhydrous solvent such as ether or tetrahydrofuran (THF).

Further examples for the synthesis of compounds of formula (I) using anyone of the above mentioned synthesis methods, are provided in the experimental part hereinafter.

Where necessary or desired, any one or more of the following further steps in any order may be performed:

-   (i) removing any remaining protecting group(s); -   (ii) converting a compound of formula (1) or a protected form     thereof into a further compound of formula (I) or a protected form     thereof; -   (iii) converting a compound of formula (I) or a protected form     thereof into a N-oxide, a salt, a quaternary amine or a solvate of a     compound of formula (I) or a protected form thereof; -   (iv) converting a N-oxide, a salt, a quaternary amine or a solvate     of a compound of formula (I) or a protected form thereof into a     compound of formula (I) or a protected form thereof; -   (v) converting a N-oxide, a salt, a quaternary amine or a solvate of     a compound of formula (I) or a protected form thereof into another     N-oxide, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt a quaternary     amine or a solvate of a compound of formula (I) or a protected form     thereof; -   (vi) where the compound of formula (I) is obtained as a mixture     of (R) and (S) enantiomers resolving the mixture to obtain the     desired enantiomer; -   (vii) where the compounds of formula (I) wherein Q consists of     bromo-substituted carbocyclic radicals containing one or two rings,     various conversions are possible, see for example scheme 7     comprising;     -   a) alkylation using for example, alkyliodide     -   b) conversion to an amine using Buchwald reaction     -   c) arylation using Heck-reaction conditions     -   d) alkylation using Heck reaction conditions     -   e) conversion to nitrile using for example, potassiumcyanide and         possible further conversion of the thus obtained nitrile to an         amine that can be alkylated or acylated under art known         conditions.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the processes described above the functional groups of intermediate compounds may need to be blocked by protecting groups.

Functional groups which it is desirable to protect include hydroxy, amino and carboxylic acid. Suitable protecting groups for hydroxy include trialkylsilyl groups (e.g. tert-butyldimethylsilyl, tert-butyldiphenylsilyl or trimethylsilyl), benzyl and tetrahydropyranyl. Suitable protecting groups for amino include tert-butyloxycarbonyl or benzyloxycarbonyl. Suitable protecting groups for carboxylic acid include C₍₁₋₆₎alkyl or benzyl esters.

The protection and deprotection of functional groups may take place before or after a reaction step.

The use of protecting groups is fully described in ‘Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry’, edited by J W F McOmie, Plenum Press (1973), and ‘Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis’ 2^(nd) edition, T W Greene & P G M Wutz, Wiley Interscience (1991).

Additionally, the N-atoms in compounds of formula (I) can be methylated by art-known methods using CH₃—I in a suitable solvent such as, for example 2-propanone, tetrahydrofuran or dimethylformamide.

The compounds of formula (I), can also be converted into each other following art-known procedures of functional group transformation of which some examples are mentioned hereinabove.

The compounds of formula (I), may also be converted to the corresponding N-oxide forms following art-known procedures for converting a trivalent nitrogen into its N-oxide form. Said N-oxidation reaction may generally be carried out by reacting the starting material of formula (I) with 3-phenyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)oxaziridine or with an appropriate organic or inorganic peroxide. Appropriate inorganic peroxides comprise, for example, hydrogen peroxide, alkali metal or earth alkaline metal peroxides, e.g. sodium peroxide, potassium peroxide; appropriate organic peroxides may comprise peroxy acids such as, for example, benzenecarboperoxoic acid or halo substituted benzenecarboperoxoic acid, e.g. 3-chlorobenzenecarboperoxoic acid, peroxoalkanoic acids, e.g. peroxoacetic acid, alkylhydroperoxides, e.g. t-butyl hydroperoxide. Suitable solvents are, for example, water, lower alkanols, e.g. ethanol and the like, hydro-carbons, e.g. toluene, ketones, e.g. 2-butanone, halogenated hydrocarbons, e.g. dichloromethane, and mixtures of such solvents.

Pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I), may be obtained by the application of art-known procedures. Diastereomers may be separated by physical methods such as selective crystallization and chromatographic techniques, e.g. counter-current distribution, liquid chromatography and the like.

Some of the compounds of formula (I), and some of the intermediates in the present invention may contain an asymmetric carbon atom. Pure stereochemically isomeric forms of said compounds and said intermediates can be obtained by the application of art-known procedures. For example, diastereoisomers can be separated by physical methods such as selective crystallization or chromatographic techniques, e.g. counter current distribution, liquid chromatography and the like methods. Enantiomers can be obtained from racemic mixtures by first converting said racemic mixtures with suitable resolving agents such as, for example, chiral acids, to mixtures of diastereomeric salts or compounds; then physically separating said mixtures of diastereomeric salts or compounds by, for example, selective crystallization or chromatographic techniques, e.g. liquid chromatography and the like methods; and finally converting said separated diastereomeric salts or compounds into the corresponding enantiomers. Pure stereochemically isomeric forms may also be obtained from the pure stereochemically isomeric forms of the appropriate intermediates and starting materials, provided that the intervening reactions occur stereospecifically.

An alternative manner of separating the enantiomeric forms of the compounds of formula (I) and intermediates involves liquid chromatography, in particular liquid chromatography using a chiral stationary phase.

A particular group of enantiomeric intermediates for the compounds of the present invention consist of the syn and anti-isomer 1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane, an intermediate used in the synthesis of those compounds of formula (I) where R³ represents an optionally substituted 2-adamantyl.

1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane is generally prepared by hydroxylation of 2-aminoadamantane, for example, using a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acid (Khimiko Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal 1986, 20, 810; Zhurnal Organichsekoi Khimii 1976, 2369).

The reaction gives two stereomers of 1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane in ratio 3:1 to 1:1 in favour of syn-isomer. As it was found that the anti-isomers have an improved HSD1-inhibitory activity, it would be desirable to have a synthesis method that gives a better selectivity in favour of the anti-isomer.

Alternatively 1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane can be obtained from the corresponding ketone after reductive amination, i.e. the cyclic ketone can be converted to the amine via an imine of oxime formation and consecutive reduction of double binding. The reduction can be done using lithium aluminium hydride, Raney-nickel or noble metals like palladium, platinum, ruthenium or rhodium supported on carbon. Reductive amination using borohydrides is a one step alternative (well know method described for example in Advanced of organic chemistry from March 2003). The selectivity of the reduction depends on the structure of substrate (ketone) and the used catalyst.

Given the fact that the two isomers of 1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane obtained after reduction of oxime or after reductive amination with ammonia are not detectable in LCMC or GCMS, it is very difficult to separate them. The coupling reaction with an acid of formula (III) gives a mixture of two coupling products of formula (I), which are separable using chromatography. However, in order to reduce the synthesis costs and to improve the yield of the anti-isomers it would be desirable to depart from the enatiomeric pure intermediates instead.

It is a object of the present invention to provide a solution for the bove mentioned problem, consisting of a method to prepare 1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane said method comprising the reductive amination of 5-hydroxy-adamantan-2-one with L(-)-1-phenyl-ethylamine by catalysis using for example ruthenium supported on carbon (Scheme 8). The selectivity afforded was 3:1 in favour of anti-stereomer. The obtained isomers are easy to separate and subsequent debenzylation of anti 4-(1-Phenyl-ethylamino)-adamantan-1-ol gives pure anti-1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamatane.

In particular 1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane was prepared of;

a) 4-(1-Phenyl-ethylamino)-adamantan-1-ol

Preparation of

Commercially available 5-hydroxyadamantan-2-one (0.1 mol), L(-)-Alpha-methyl-benzyl amine (0.105 mol), aluminium isopropoxide (0.1 mol) and Rhodium on active carbon (20 mol %) were suspended in 500 ml of toluene, 20 ml of the 4% thiophene solution were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 24 h.

The catalyst was filtered of, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuum. The residue containing two isomers in ratio 3:1 trans:cis, was purified by column chromatography to yield 12 g of the intermediate XVIII-A and 4 g of the intermediate XVIII-B.

b) 1-Hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane

Preparation of

The amine XVIII-A (0.05 mol) was dissolved in methanol (100 ml), palladium on active carbon (0.002 mol) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at room temperature for 16 h. The catalyst was filtered of, the filtrate was evaporated in vacuum. The residue was triturated with dichloromethane to give the title compound (II-A) (7.5 g).

Some of the intermediates and starting materials as used in the reaction procedures mentioned hereinabove are known compounds and may be commercially available or may be prepared according to art-known procedures.

The compounds of the present invention are useful because they possess pharmacological properties. They can therefore be used as medicines, in particular to treat pathologies associated with excess cortisol formation such as for example, obesity, diabetes, obesity related cardiovascular diseases, and glaucoma.

As described in the experimental part hereinafter, the inhibitory effect of the present compounds on the 11b-HSD1-reductase activity (conversion of cortison into cortisol) has been demonstrated in vitro, in an enzymatic assay using the recombinant 11b-HSD1 enzyme, by measuring the conversion of cortison into cortisol using HPLC purification and quantification methods. 11b-HSD1-reductase inhibition was also demonstrated in vitro, in a cell based assay comprising contacting the cells, expressing 11b-HSD1 with the compounds to be tested and assessing the effect of said compounds on the formation of cortisol in the cellular medium of these cells. The cells preferably used in an assay of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of mouse fibroblast 3T3-L1 cells, HepG2 cells, pig kidney cell, in particular LCC-PK1 cells and rat hepatocytes.

Accordingly, the present invention provides the compounds of formula (I), (I′), (I″) and their pharmaceutically acceptable N-oxides, addition salts, quaternary amines and stereochemically isomeric forms for use in therapy. More particular in the treatment or prevention of cell proliferation mediated diseases. The compounds of formula (I), (I′), (I″) and their pharmaceutically acceptable N-oxides, addition salts, quaternary amines and the stereochemically isomeric forms may hereinafter be referred to as compounds according to the invention.

In view of the utility of the compounds according to the invention, there is provided a method for the treatment of an animal, for example, a mammal including humans, suffering from a cell proliferative disorder such as atherosclerosis, restinosis and cancer, which comprises administering an effective amount of a compound according to the present invention.

Said method comprising the systemic or topical administration of an effective amount of a compound according to the invention, to warm-blooded animals, including humans.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a compound according to the present invention for use as a medicine. In particular to use the compound according to the present invention in the manufacture of a medicament for treating pathologies associated with excess cortisol formation such as for example, obesity, diabetes, obesity related cardiovascular diseases, and glaucoma.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides the use of the compounds according to the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for treating any of the aforementioned cell proliferative disorders or indications.

The amount of a compound according to the present invention, also referred to here as the active ingredient, which is required to achieve a therapeutical effect will be, of course, vary with the particular compound, the route of administration, the age and condition of the recipient, and the particular disorder or disease being treated. A suitable daily dose would be from 0.001 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg body weight, in particular from 0.005 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg body weight. A method of treatment may also include administering the active ingredient on a regimen of between one and four intakes per day.

While it is possible for the active ingredient to be administered alone, it is preferable to present it as a pharmaceutical composition. Accordingly, the present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to the present invention, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. The carrier or diluent must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the composition and not deleterious to the recipients thereof.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be prepared by any methods well known in the art of pharmacy, for example, using methods such as those described in Gennaro et al. Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (18^(th) ed., Mack Publishing Company, 1990, see especially Part 8: Pharmaceutical preparations and their Manufacture). A therapeutically effective amount of the particular compound, in base form or addition salt form, as the active ingredient is combined in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. These pharmaceutical compositions are desirably in unitary dosage form suitable, preferably, for systemic administration such as oral, percutaneous, or parenteral administration; or topical administration such as via inhalation, a nose spray, eye drops or via a cream, gel, shampoo or the like. For example, in preparing the compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations such as suspensions, syrups, elixirs and solutions: or solid carriers such as starches, sugars, kaolin, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of powders, pills, capsules and tablets. Because of their ease in administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form, in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. For parenteral compositions, the carrier will usually comprise sterile water, at least in large part, though other ingredients, for example, to aid solubility, may be included. Injectable solutions, for example, may be prepared in which the carrier comprises saline solution, glucose solution or a mixture of saline and glucose solution. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed. In the compositions suitable for percutaneous administration, the carrier optionally comprises a penetration enhancing agent and/or a suitable wettable agent, optionally combined with suitable additives of any nature in minor proportions, which additives do not cause any significant deleterious effects on the skin. Said additives may facilitate the administration to the skin and/or may be helpful for preparing the desired compositions. These compositions may be administered in various ways, e.g., as a transdermal patch, as a spot-on or as an ointment. As appropriate compositions for topical application there may be cited all compositions usually employed for topically administering drugs e.g. creams, gellies, dressings, shampoos, tinctures, pastes, ointments, salves, powders and the like. Application of said compositions may be by aerosol, e.g. with a propellant such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, a freon, or without a propellant such as a pump spray, drops, lotions, or a semisolid such as a thickened composition which can be applied by a swab. In particular, semisolid compositions such as salves, creams, gellies, ointments and the like will conveniently be used.

It is especially advantageous to formulate the aforementioned pharmaceutical compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used in the specification and claims herein refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. Examples of such dosage unit forms are tablets (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, powder packets, wafers, injectable solutions or suspensions, teaspoonfuls, tablespoonfuls and the like, and segregated multiples thereof.

In order to enhance the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I), (I′), (I″) in pharmaceutical compositions, it can be advantageous to employ α-, β- or γ-cyclodextrins or their derivatives. Also co-solvents such as alcohols may improve the solubility and/or the stability of the compounds of formula (I), (I′), (I″) in pharmaceutical compositions. In the preparation of aqueous compositions, addition salts of the subject compounds are obviously more suitable due to their increased water solubility.

Experimental Part

Hereinafter, the term ‘RT’ means room temperature, ‘THF’ means tetrahydrofuran, ‘AcOH’ means acetic acid, ‘EtOH’ means ethanol, ‘DME’ means dimethyl ether, ‘DIPE’ means diisopropyl ether, ‘TFA’ means trifluoroacetic acid, ‘EtOAc’ means ethyl acetate, ‘iPrOH’ means isopropanol, ‘HOBt’ means I-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole, ‘DMA’ means N,N-dimethylacetamide, ‘DMF’ means N,N-dimethylformamide, ‘NaHMDS’ means N-sodiumhexmethyldisilazane, ‘DPPP’ means 1,3-propanediyl-bis[diphenylphosphine], ‘EDCI’ means N′-(ethylcarbonimidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine monohydrochloride, ‘DAST’ means (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride, and Extrelut™ is a product of Merck KgaA (Darmstadt, Germany) and is a short column comprising diatomaceous earth.

A. Preparation of the Intermediates

EXAMPLE A1

Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one oxime [16473-10-2] (1.4 g) was dissolved in anhydrous THF (30 ml) and a solution of lithium aluminum tetrahydride (15 ml, 1M in diethyl ether) was added. The solution was boiled under reflux for 16 hours. Addition of water (0.6 ml), 15% NaOH (0.6 ml), and water (1.8 ml), followed by filtration, drying of the filtrate (MgSO₄) and evaporation gave the crude amines. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane, and extracted with 15% citric acid. The aqueous layer was basicified with 1 M KOH, and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried and evaporated to give the amines 1:1 mixture (0.5 g) of intermediate (1) en intermediate (2); NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.2-2.1 (m, CH), 2.45 (t, 1H), 2.9 (m, 1H).

EXAMPLE A2

Commercially available spiro[1,3-dioxolane-2,2′-tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decan]-6′-one [50776-11-9] (2.3 g, 0.012 mol) (containing about 30% of the diketal) was dissolved inethanol and a solution of hydroxylamine hydrochloride (1.7 g, 0.025 mol) and NaOH (1.0 g) in water (30 ml) was added. The mixture was stirred overnight. The volatiles were evaporated in vacuo, and the residue was extracted with dichlomethane. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried and evaporated to give the oxime intermediate (3) (2.4 g).

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.3-2.3 (m, CH), 2.5 (bs, 1H), 3.5 (bs, 1H), 3.95 (s, 4H, CH₂CH₂)

6-Hydroxyimino-adamantan-2-yl ethylene ketal (2.4 g) was dissolved 7M NH₃/MeOH (100 ml), Raney nickel (1 g) was added and the mixture was hydrogenated at 14° C. The mixture was filtered, and evaporated to give 2.0 g of intermediate (4).

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.3-2.3 (m, CH), 3.23 (bs, 2H, NH2), 3.95 (s, 4H, CH₂CH₂).

EXAMPLE A3

A solution of 3-methoxy-5-methylbenzeneacetonitrile (0.016 mol) in THF (20 ml) was cooled to −40° C. and then NaHMDS (0.0355 mol) was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred for 1 hour at −30° C. A mixture of iodomethane (0.0355 mol) in THF (q.s.) was added dropwise at <−30° C. and the reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at −40° C., then the mixture was allowed to reach room temperature and stirred overnight. The resulting mixture was treated with 1N HCl and the layers were separated. The crude was extracted and treated with CH₂Cl₂/hexane (3/2) to isolate the desired product, yielding 2.5 g (83%) of intermediate (5).

Potassium hydroxide 6N in water (20 ml) was added to a solution of intermediate (5) (0.013 mol) in ethanol (40 ml) and then the reaction mixture was stirred for 4 hours under microwave conditions at 160° C. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with DIPE. The aqueous layer was acidified with conc. HCl to pH: 1 and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic extracts were washed with water and with brine, then dried and the solvent was evaporated. The resulting residue was triturated under hexane and the desired product was collected, yielding 1.69 g (61.5%) of intermediate (6).

A solution of intermediate (6) (0.005 mol) in dichloromethane (20 ml) was cooled to −78° C. and then tribromoborane (1M) in dichoromethane (10.5 ml) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was allowed to reach room temperature and was stirred overnight at room temperature. Water (50 ml) was added, followed by 6N KOH (10 ml) and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. The aqueous layer was separated and extracted with dichloromethane, then acidified with conc. HCl to pH: 1 and extracted with dichloromethane (3×40 ml). The organic extracts were-washed with water and with brine, dried and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.620 g of intermediate (7).

Chloro(1,1-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilane (0.0048 mol), 1H-imidazole (0.0048 mol) and N,N-dimethyl-4-pyridinamine (0.020 g) were added to a solution of intermediate (7) (0.0032 mol) in dichloromethane (30 ml) and then the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The resulting precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue (1.6 g) was triturated under DIPE and then the desired product was collected, yielding 0.85 g of intermediate (8).

EXAMPLE A4

A solution of potassium cyanide (0.09 mol) in water (20 ml) was added to a solution of 1-bromo-3-(bromomethyl)-5-methylbenzene [51719-69-8] (0.085 mol) in ethanol (100 ml) and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, then the mixture (18 g) was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/Heptane 2/1). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 7.5 g (90%) of intermediate (9).

A solution of intermediate (9) (0.036 mol) in THF (150 ml) was cooled to −40° C. under nitrogen, NaHMDS (2M) in THF (0.080 mol) was added dropwise at <−25° C. and the reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at −30° C. A mixture of iodomethane (0.080 ml) in THF (20 ml) was added dropwise at <−30° C. and the resulting mixture was allowed to reach room temperature, then stirred overnight. HCl (1N, 100 ml) was added and the layers were separated. The aqueous layer was extracted 2 times with EtOAc, then the organic layers were combined, washed with a 5% NaHCO₃ soln., with water, with brine and dried. Finally, the solvent was evaporated, yielding 8.2 g of intermediate (10).

A mixture of potassium hydroxide (10 g) in water (60 ml) was added to a solution of intermediate (10) (0.034 mol) in ethanol (160 ml) and then the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed over the weekend. The mixture was diluted with ice-water and extracted with dichloromethane, to give extract (I) and aqueous layer (I). Aqueous layer (I) was acidified with HCl and extracted with dichloromethane. The extract was washed with brine, dried and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 8 g of residue (LCMS: 90% P). The residue was triturated under hexane and two product fractions were collected, yielding fraction 1:2.8 g of intermediate (11).

N,N-diethylethanamine (0.005 mol), 2-propenoic acid, phenylmethyl ester (0.002 mol), tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine (0.0006 mol) and then Pd₂(dibenzylideneacetone)₃ complex (0.0002 mol) were added to a solution of intermediate (11) (0.001 mol) in DMF (6 ml). The reaction mixture was heated to 90° C. and shaken for 4 hours at 90° C. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and with DIPE, then the resulting precipitate was filtered off and the filtrate was washed 3 times with water. The aqueous layer was acidified with 1N HCl and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.340 g of intermediate (12).

EXAMPLE A5

3-Bromo-α,α-dimethylbenzeneacetic acid [81606-47-5] (0.001 mol) was dissolved in DMF (6 ml) and then N,N-diethylethanamine (0.005 mol) was added followed by 2-propenoic acid, phenylmethyl ester [2495-35-4] (0.002 mol). Tris(4-methylphenyl)-phosphine (0.0006 mol) and Pd₂(dibenzylideneacetone)₃ complex (0.0002 mol) were added and then the reaction mixture was shaken for 4 hours at 90° C. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with water. The aqueous layers were collected, acidified with 1N HCl to pH: 1-2 and extracted with EtOAc. The extracts were combined, washed with water and with brine, dried, filtered off and the solvent was evaporated (vac.), yielding 0.340 g of intermediate (13).

EXAMPLE A6

3-bromo-α,α-dimethylbenzeneacetic acid [81606-47-5] (0.001 mol) was dissolved in N,N-diethylethanamine (q.s.) and the solution was degassed and then N,N-diethyl-ethanamine (0.005 mol), 4-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)morpholine [5117-12-4] (0.002 mol), tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine (0.0005 mol) and Pd₂(dibenzylideneacetone)₃ complex (0.00015 mol) were added. The reaction mixture was shaken overnight at 90° C. and diluted with EtOAc. The catalyst was filtered off over dicalite and washed with EtOAc, then water was added and the organic layer was separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc, acidified with HCl to pH: 1 and extracted again with EtOAc. The extracts were washed with water and with brine, dried, filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.291 g of intermediate (14).

EXAMPLE A7

A mixture of 3-bromo-α,α-dimethylbenzeneacetic acid ethyl ester [81606-46-4] (0.0018 mol), 2-propenenitrile (1 g), acetic acid, palladium (2+) salt (0.0006 mol), DPPP [6737-42-4] (0.0012 mol) and acetic acid, potassium salt (1 g) in ethanol (150 ml) was reacted for 16 hours at 100° C. and then the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and the resulting solution was washed. The crude was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/Heptane 3/2). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.750 g of intermediate (15).

Intermediate (15) (0.0031 mol) was reduced with palladium on activated carbon (cat. quant.) and then with Raney nickel (cat. quant.). After uptake of hydrogen (3 equiv.), the catalysts were filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 0.7 g of intermediate (16).

1,1′-oxybis[2-chloroethane] [111-44-4] (0.0025 mol) was added to a solution of intermediate (16) (0.0012 mol) and potassium carbonate (0.006 mol) in DMF (15 ml) and then the reaction mixture was stirred for 22 hours at 100° C. The mixture was filtered and the filter residue was diluted with EtOAc, then washed with water and dried. Finally, the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.6 g of intermediate (17).

Potassium hydroxide (6 ml) was added to a solution of intermediate (17) (0.0012 mol) in ethanol (12 ml) and then the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 1 hour. The mixture was cooled, diluted with water and extracted with DIPE. The aqueous layer was acidified with conc. HCl and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with water and with brine and then the solvent was evaporated. The aqueous layer was concentrated (vac.) and the resulting concentrate was washed with methanol. Finally the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.400 g of intermediate (18).

EXAMPLE A8

Potassium hydroxide (6N) (10 ml) was added to a solution of 3,5-dimethoxy-α,α-dimethylbenzeneacetonitrile [22972-63-0] (0.011 mol) in ethanol (40 ml) and the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 5 days, then the mixture was diluted with water and extracted with dichloromethane. The aqueous layer was acidified with HCl and extracted with dichloromethane. The extracts were washed with water and with brine, then dried and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.190 g of intermediate (19).

EXAMPLE A9

N,N-diethylethanamine (0.005 mol), 4-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)morpholine [5117-12-4] (0.002 mol), tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine [1038-95-5] (0.0006 mol) and then Pd₂(dibenzylideneacetone)₃ complex (0.00016 mol) were added to a solution of intermediate (11) (0.001 mol) in DMF (10 ml), then the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at 90° C. and diluted with EtOAc (20 ml). The resulting mixture was washed with water and then the aqueous layer was acidified with 1N HCl to pH: 1 and extracted with EtOAc. The extract was dried and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.500 g of residue (LCMS: 69% P). The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.196 g (62%) of intermediate (20).

EXAMPLE A10

2-Phenoxybenzeneacetonitrile [25562-98-5] (0.010 mol) was dissolved in THF (40 ml) under nitrogen and the mixture was cooled to −40° C., then NaHMDS (2M) in THF (0.025 mol) was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. A mixture of iodomethane (0.030 mol) in THF, p.a. (10 ml) was added dropwise and after reaching room temperature, the reaction mixture was stirred for 2 hours. The mixture was filtered off over dicalite, then the filter residue was washed with EtOAc and 0.1M HCl (60 ml) was added to the filtrate. The aqueous layer was separated and extracted 2 times with EtOAc. The organic layers were combined, washed with water and with brine, then dried, filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2.7 g of intermediate (21).

A solution of intermediate (21) (0002 mol) in potassium hydroxide (6M) in water (10 ml) and ethanol (20 ml) was put in a teflon vessel of the microwave labstation (Milestone Inc.) and the solution was stirred in the closed vessel for 6 hours at 170° C. The mixture obtained was then cooled and washed with EtOAc. The aqueous layer was separated and acidified with HCl. Finally, the resulting precipitate was filtered off, yielding intermediate (22).

EXAMPLE A11

3,5-Difluorobenzeneacetonitrile [122376-76-5] (0.013 mol) was dissolved in THF, p.a. (60 ml) under nitrogen and the mixture was cooled to −30° C., then NaHMDS (2M) in THF (0.029 mol) was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred for 1 hour. A mixture of iodomethane (0.030 mol) in THF, p.a. (10 ml) was added dropwise and while reaching room temperature, the reaction mixture was stirred for 6 hours. The mixture was filtered over dicalite, then the filter residue was washed with EtOAc and the filtrate was treated with 1N HCl. The organic layer was separated, washed with water and with brine, then dried, filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2.4 g of intermediate (23).

A solution of intermediate (23) (0.013 mol) in potassium hydroxide (6M) in water (20 ml) and ethanol (40 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 24 hours, after cooling the reaction mixture was washed with EtOAc. The aqueous layer was acidified with HCl and the resulting precipitate was filtered off, yielding 1.5 g (60%) of intermediate (24).

EXAMPLE A12

2,6-Difluorobenzeneacetonitrile [654-01-3] (0.013 mol) was dissolved in THF (25 ml) under nitrogen and the mixture was cooled to −40° C., then NaHMDS (2M) in THF (0.028 mol) was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. Iodomethane (0.028 mol) was added dropwise and while reaching room temperature, the reaction mixture was stirred for 6 hours. The mixture was filtered over dicalite, then the filter residue was washed with EtOAc and the filtrate was treated with 1N HCl. The organic layer was separated, washed with water and with brine, then dried, filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residue (2.2 g) was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:dichloromethane). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.4 g of intermediate (25).

Hydrochloric acid (40 ml) was added to a solution of intermediate (25) (0.006 mol) in glacial acetic acid (20 ml) and then the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 24 hours. The solvent was evaporated, then the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and washed with sodium carbonate (1M). The aqueous layer was acidified with conc. HCl and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic extracts were collected, dried and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.6 g (72%) of intermediate (26).

EXAMPLE A13

Tin(II)chloride (0.068 mol) was added to 3,4-dihydro-4-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-2H-1-benzopyran-4-carbonitrile [74187-63-6] (0.017 mol) under nitrogen, then acetic acid (20 ml) and hydrochloric acid (20 ml) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed overnight under nitrogen. The mixture was cooled, poured out into ice and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed, dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.4 g of residue (54% P). The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1 g of intermediate (27).

EXAMPLE A14

A mixture of 2,3-dihydro-8-methoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one [20351-79-5] (0.02 mol) and zinc iodide (0.125 g) in trichloromethane (5 ml) was stirred on ice under nitrogen. Trimethylsilanecarbonitrile [7677-24-9] (0.067 mol) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. Dichloromethane (50 ml) was added and the mixture was washed 2 times with a sodium carbonate solution. The organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 4 g of intermediate (28).

A mixture of intermediate (28) (0.0072 mol) in acetic acid (15 ml) and hydrochloric acid (15 ml) was stirred and refluxed overnight under nitrogen and then the reaction mixture was cooled. The mixture was poured out into water and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was extracted with a diluted sodium hydroxide solution, then the aqueous layer was acidified with hydrochloric acid and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was separated, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1 g of residue (56% P). The residual fraction was purified by Flash-40 column chromatography over Biotage (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.39 g (28%) of intermediate (29).

EXAMPLE A15

A mixture of 3,4-dihydro-4-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-2H-1-benzothiopyran-4-carbonitrile [74187-62-5] (0.021 mol) in acetic acid (40 ml) and hydrochloric acid (40 ml) was stirred and refluxed overnight over a Dean-Starck setting. The reaction mixture was cooled and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with a Na₂CO₃ solution, then the aqueous layer was acidified with HCl to pH: 2 and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was separated, washed, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.7 g of intermediate (30).

EXAMPLE A16

A mixture of 3,4-dihydro-5,7-dimethyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone [13621-25-5] (0.02 mol) and zinc iodide (0.125 g) in trichloromethane (5 ml) was stirred on ice and trimethylsilanecarbonitrile [7677-24-9] (0.075 mol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight and washed 2 times with a NaHCO₃ solution. The organic layer was dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 5.7 g of intermediate (31).

A mixture of intermediate (31) (0.02 mol) in acetic acid (40 ml) and hydrochloric acid (40 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 3 days under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was cooled and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was extracted with a Na₂CO₃ solution, then the aqueous layer was acidified with hydrochloric acid and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was separated, washed, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.2 g (29%) of intermediate (32).

EXAMPLE A17

A mixture of 5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decanone [20098-14-0] (0.01 mol) and (αS)-α-methylbenzenemethanamine [2627-86-3] (0.01 mol) in ethanol (20 ml) was stirred and refluxed over the weekend and then the solvent was evaporated (vacuo), yielding 2.8 g of intermediate (33).

Intermediate (33) (0.001 mol) was taken up in THF (anhydrous) (5 ml) and the mixture was cooled to 0° C. under nitrogen, then sodium tetrahydroborate (0.00115 mol) and trifluoroacetic acid (0.00344 mol) were added and the reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. Dichloromethane (10 ml) and a saturated NaHCO₃ solution were added. The organic layer was separated, washed with NaHCO₃, dried and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc 95/5). Two product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.130 g of intermediate (34) and 0.090 g of intermediate (35).

EXAMPLE A18

A mixture of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-isoquinolinecarboxylic acid, hydrochloride [92932-74-6] (0.00117 mol) and N,N-diethylethanamine (0.2 g) in 2-propanone (10 ml) and water (10 ml) was stirred and then dicarbonic acid, bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) ester [24424-99-5] (0.0022 mol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred over the weekend, then poured out into dichloromethane and washed with water. The organic layer was separated, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.38 g of intermediate (36).

B. Preparation of the Compounds

EXAMPLE B‘

2,2-dimethyl-(4-chlorophenyl)acetic acid [6258-30-6] (2.0 g, 10 mmol) and 2-aminoadamantane hydrochloride [13074-39-0] (1.9 g, 10 mmol) were dissolved in dichloromethane (50 ml), HOBt (2.7 g, 20 mol), N,N-diethylethanamine (2.1 g, 20 mmol), and EDCI (2.1 g, 11 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was washed with 15% citric acid, sat. NaHCO₃ and brine, dried over MgSO₄, and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was recrystallised from isopropanol, yielding 2.0 (6 mmol, 60%) of compound 1.

NMR: (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.4-1.8 (m, CH), 1.47 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 3.79 (d, 1H, CH), 6.42 (d, 1H, NH), 7.38 (dd, Ar—H).

LC-MS: M+1 332.89, 334.89

EXAMPLE B2

Compound 1 (1.7 g, 5 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (100 ml), 0.5 g palladium on activated carbon (10%) and CaO (1 g) were added, and the mixture was hydrogenated at 50° C., After uptake of one equivalent of hydrogen, the reaction was filtered, evaporated till dryness. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane, washed with sat. NaHCO₃, dried and evaporated. The residue was crystallized from diisopropyl ether, yielding 0.65 g (60%) of compound 2.

NMR: (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.4-1.8 (m, CH), 1.49 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 3.79 (d, 1H, CH), 6.21 (d, 1H, NH), 7.25-7.37 (m, 5H, Ar—H).

LC-MS: M+1 298.44

EXAMPLE B'

2,2-Dimethylphenyl acetic acid [826-55-1] was dissolved in dry dichloromethane, oxalyl chloride was added and one drop of DMF. After stirring for two hours, the solution was evaporated till dryness, redissolved in 10 ml dichloromethane, and added to a solution of 2-aminoadamantane [13074-39-0] and triethylamine in Dichloromethane. The mixture was stirred overnight, extracted with 15% citric acid, sat. NAHCO₃ and brine, dried over MgSO₄, and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was recrystallised from isopropyl ether.

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.3-1.8 (m, CH), 1.55 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 2.31 (s, 6H, 2×CH3), 3.96 (d, 1H, CH), 5.50 (d, 1H, NH), 6.91 (s, 1H, Ar—H), 6.99 (s, 2H, ArH).

EXAMPLE B∝

2-Methyl-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (2.0 g, 10 mmol) and 2-amino-adamantane hydrochloride [13074-39-0] (1.9 g, 10 mmol) were dissolved in dichloromethane (50 ml), HOBt (2.7 g, 20 mol), N,N-diethylethanamine (2.1 g, 20 mmol), and EDCI (2.1 g, 11 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was washed with 15% citric acid, sat. NaHCO₃ and brine, dried over MgSO₄, and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was recrystallised from isopropanol, yielding 2.0 g (6 mmol, 60%) of compound 4.

NMR: (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.4-1.8 (m, CH), 1.48 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 3.75 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.79 (d, 1H, CH), 6.23 (d, 1H, NH), 6.8-7.3 (m, 3H, Ar—H).

Compound 4 was dissolved in dry dichloromethane, cooled to −78° C. and boron tribromide was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, poured onto aqueous ammonia and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layers were washed with brine, dried and evaporated. The solid residue was crystallized from ethyl acetate, yielding compound 5.

NMR: (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.4-1.8 (m, CH), 1.44 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 3.79 (d, 1H, CH), 6.18 (d, 1H, NH), 6.65-7.16 (dd, 4H, Ar—H), 9.35 (s, 1H, OH).

Compound 4 was dissolved in DMF and ethyl bromoacetate was added together with potassium carbonate. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. overnight, poured on ice, and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with 1 M NaHCO₃, and brine, and evaporated. The residue was dissoled in ethanol, 1 M potassium hydroxide was added, and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours. The solution was acidified with 1M HCl, extracted with EtOAc, the organic layer was dried and evaporated. The residue was crystallized from ethyl acetate, yielding compound 6

NMR: (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.4-1.8 (m, CH), 1.47 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 3.78 (d, 1H, CH), 4.67 (s, 2H, CH2COOH), 6.23 (d, 1H, NH), 6.77-7.3 (m, 4H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE B5

Compound 4 was dissolved in DMF, and dimethylaminoethyl chloride hydrochloride was added, followed by K₂CO₃. The mixture was stirred at 60° C. overnight, poured on ice, and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with 1 M NaHCO₃, and brine, and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in iPrOH with heating, oxalic acid was added, and the crystallie amine was filtered, yielding compound 7

NMR: (DMSO-d₆) δ 1.4-1.8 (m, CH), 1.49 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 2.78 (s, 6H, N(CH3)₂), 3.43 (t, 2H, CH2), 3.79 (d, 1H, CH), 4.27 (t, 2H, CH2), 6.29 (d, 1H, NH), 6.85-7.35 (m, 4H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE B6

α,α-2,2-Dimethylphenyl acetic acid [826-55-1] (2.5 g, 15 mmol) was dissolved in dry dichloromethane (50 ml), oxalyl chloride (1.5 ml, 0.017 mol) was added and one drop of DMF. After stirring for two hours, the solution was evaporated till dryness, redissolved in 50 ml of dichloromethane, and added to a solution of 2-amino-adamantane (CAS 13074-39-0) (2.5 g, 15 mmol) and N,N-diethylethanamine (3.0 g, 30 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 mL). The mixture was stirred overnight, extracted with 15% citric acid, sat. NaHCO₃ and brine, dried over MgSO₄, and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed over silicagel (eluens 3-5% MeOH in dichloro-methane), yielding 1.8 g of compound 8

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.2-1.85 (m, CH), 1.59 (s, 6H, (CH₃)₂), 1.95-2.00 (m, 2H, CH), 3.91 (dt, 1H, CH), 5.32 (d, 1H, NH), 7.25-7.47 (m, 5H, Ar—H).

and 1.8 g of compound 9

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.2-1.7 (m, CH), 1.56 (s, 6H, (CH₃)₂), 2.05-2.10 (m, 2H, CH), 3.83 (dt, 1H, CH), 5.32 (d, 1H, NH), 7.25-7.50 (m, 5H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE B7

Compound 8 (80 mg) was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 ml) and cooled to −78° C. under nitrogen. DAST (0.1 ml) was added, and the mixture was stirred and warmed to room temperature. Saturated NaHCO₃ was added and the layers were separated. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated. The residue was crystallized from diisopropylether to give 40 mg (50%) of the compound 10

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.2-1.85 (m, CH), 1.59 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 1.95-2.10 (m, 2H, CH), 3.93 (dt, 1H, CH), 5.27 (d, 1H, NH), 7.27-7.43 (m, 5H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE 8

Compound 8 (100 mg, 0.3 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 ml), cooled to −78° C. and boron tribromide (0.15 ml, 1.5 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature, diluted with dichloromethane and poured on a mixture ice and conc. ammonia. The layers were separated, the organic layer washed with brine, dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated. The residue was crystallized from ethyl acetate, yielding compound 11; LC-MS: M+1 393.34, 395.34;

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.25-1.52 (m, CH), 1.57 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 1.90-2.42 (m, CH), 3.97 (dt, 1H, CH), 5.37 (d, 1H, NH), 6.28-7.30 (m, 4H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE B9

2,2-Dimethylphenyl acetic acid [826-55-1] (0.5 g, 2.7 mmol) was dissolved in dry dichloromethane, oxalyl chloride (0.4 g) was added and one drop of DMF. After stirring for two hours, the solution was evaporated till dryness, redissolved in 10 ml dichloromethane, and added to a solution of 6-oxo-adamantan-2-ylamine ethylene ketal (0.6 g, 2.7 mmol) and N,N-diethylethanamine (0.5 ml) in dichloromethane. The mixture was stirred overnight, extracted with 15% citric acid, sat. NAHCO₃ and brine, dried over MgSO₄, and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified over silicagel (eluens 5% MeOH in dichloromethane), and compound 12 was recrystallised from isopropyl ether, yielding 600 mg (50%).

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.52-2.05 (m, CH), 1.60 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 3.85 (dt, 1H, CH), 3.85-3.90 (m, 4H, CH2CH2), 5.45 (d, 1H, NH), 7.23-7.42 (m, 5H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE B10

The ketal from example B9 (450 mg) was dissolved in acetone (10 ml), 1 M HCl (5 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 45° C. The reaction mixture was concentrated, and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layers were washed with sat. NaHCO₃ and brine, dried and evaporated. The residue was crystallized from ethanol, yielding 300 mg of compound 13.

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.52-1.75 (m, CH), 1.60 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 1.95-2.15 (m, 2H, CH), 2.30 (d, 2H, CH), 2.50 (s, 2H, CH), 4.12 (dt, 1H, CH), 5.45 (d, 1H, NH), 7.27-7.47 (m, 5H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE B11

Compound 13 (50 mg) was dissolved in MeOH and NaBH₄ (50 mg) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 6 hours. 1M HCl was added, and the mixture was extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase was washed with brine, dried and evaporated. Chromatography over silicagel (5% MeOH in dichloromethane) gave the 20 mg (40% of compound 14.

NMR: (CDCl₃) δ 1.52-2.00 (m, CH), 1.60 (s, 6H, (CH3)₂), 3.85 (dt, 1H, CH), 5.45 (d, 1H, NH), 7.23-7.42 (m, 5H, Ar—H).

EXAMPLE B12

1-Phenylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (0.00028 mol); was added to a mixture of polymer-supported N-cyclohexylcarbodiimide (0.0004 mol) in dichloromethane (5 ml). The mixture was stirred for 15 minutes. 2-Methyl-2-propanamine (0.0002 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The resin was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was purified over a prepacked silicagel liquid chromatography column (14 ml; eluent:dichloromethane). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound 17.

EXAMPLE B13

Polymer-supported carbodiimide (0.0004 mol) was suspended in dichloromethane (5 ml). Then, 1-phenylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (0.00028 mol) and N,N-dimethyl-4-pyridinamine (0.00001 mol) were added and the mixture was stirred for 20 minutes. Tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane-1-methanamine (0.0002 mol; 6 variables) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The mixture was filtered. The filter residue was washed with dichloromethane and the filtrate's solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on TRIKONEX FlashTube™ (eluent:hexane/EtOAc 9/2). The product fractions were collected and then extracted and the extracts were evaporated, yielding 0.037 of compound 31

EXAMPLE B14

A mixture of m, α-dimethylhydratropic acid (0.001 mol), 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole (0.0011 mol) and N′-(ethylcarbonimidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine monohydrochloride (0.00105 mol) in dichloromethane (5 ml) was stirred until complete dissolution (±20 minutes) at room temperature. A mixture of 2-adamantanamine hydrochloride (0.0013 mol) in dichloromethane (2 ml), triethylamine (1 ml) and DMF (0.5 ml) was added and the resultant mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. Water (2 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes. The mixture was filtered through Extrelut™ and the filtrate's solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on TRIKONEX FlashTube™ (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc 95/5). The product fractions were collected and purified by HPLC. The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (89).

A suspension of compound (89) (0.005 mol), 1-bromo-2,5-pyrrolidinedione, (0.0055 mol) and 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile [cas: 78-67-1] (0.030 g) in tetrachloromethane (50 ml) was stirred and refluxed for 1 hour, then the precipitate was filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and the solution was washed with a 2% NaHCO₃ solution, with water and with brine. The mixture was dried and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 2 g of product. A part (0.100 g) of this residue was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (270).

A suspension of compound (270) (0.0013 mol), potassium cyanide (0.0065 mol) and potassium iodide (0.00013 mol) in acetonitrile (10 ml) was stirred overnight at room temperature and then the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in Dichloromethane and the solution was extracted with H₂O. The mixture was filtered over Extrelut™ and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:hexane/EtOAc 2/1). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.12 g (96%) of compound (161).

A mixture of compound compound (161) (0.0009 mol) in a mixture of ammonia in methanol (50 ml) was hydrogenated at 14° C. with Raney nickel (cat. quant.) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen (2 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 0.270 g (88%) of compound (170).

A suspension of compound (170) (0.0006 mol) and potassium carbonate (0.0018 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (8 ml) was stirred for 15 minutes and a mixture of 1-chloro-2-(chloromethoxy)ethane (0.00066 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (q.s.) was added dropwise, then the reaction mixture was stirred over the weekend at room temperature. The mixture was heated overnight to 65° C. and extra 1-chloro-2-(chloromethoxy)ethane (0.030 g) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 65° C., then poured out into water and extracted with dichloromethane. The product was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The product fractions were collected, the solvent was evaporated and the residue was shaken with active charcoal, yielding 0.021 g (8.5%)) of compound (191).

EXAMPLE B15

A mixture of iodomethane (0.001 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (1 ml) was added dropwise to a suspension of compound (170) (0.0003 mol) and potassium carbonate (0.001 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (3 ml) and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, then the mixture was poured out into water and washed with Dichloromethane. The resulting mixture was filtered over Extrelut™ and the solvent was evaporated, yielding product (NMR: CTS, LCMS: 100% MW 382). The residue was triturated under DIPE; the resulting precipitate was filtered off and dried, yielding 0.075 g (65%) of compound (178).

EXAMPLE B16

A mixture of 3-bromo-α,α-dimethylbenzeneacetic acid (0.0004 mol), 2-adamantanamine hydrochloride (0.0006 mol) and 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole (0.0008 mol) in dichloromethane (5 ml), DMF (1 ml) and N,N-diethylethanamine (3 ml) was stirred, then N′-(ethylcarbonimidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine monohydrochloride (0.00045 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. Water (2 ml) was added, the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes and filtered through Extrelut™. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography on TRIKONEX FlashTube™ (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc 98/2). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was further purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and washed with a Na₂CO₃ solution. The mixture was filtered through Extrelut™ and the organic solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.0148 g of compound (271).

A mixture of compound (271) (0.00080 mol), 2-propenoic acid, ethyl ester (1 g), palladium(II)acetate (0.0002 mol), 1,3-propanediylbis[diphenylphosphine (0.0004 mol) and triethylamine (1 ml) in THF (100 ml) was reacted at 125° C. for 16 hours and then the solvent was evaporated. The residue (0.5 g) was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:dichloromethane). Two product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.120 g (97%) of compound (180).

A mixture of compound (180) (0.0003 mol) in THF (40 ml) was hydrogenated with palladium on activated carbon (10%) (0.03 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen (1 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and the residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:dichloromethane). Two product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.045 g of compound (193).

A mixture of compound (193) (0.00015 mol) and 1,4-dioxane (0.5 ml) in hydrochloric acid (2 ml) was stirred for 1 hour at 70° C. and then the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and filtered over a silica-path (dichloromethane). The filtrate was evaporated and the resulting residue was dried, yielding 0.025 g (45%) of compound (196).

EXAMPLE B17

A mixture of compound (271) (0.00013 mol), Pd₂(dibenzylideneacetone)₃ complex (0.026 g), 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (0.033 g), Zn/Zn(CN)₂ (0.012 g/0.105 g), sodium azide (0.100 g) and ammoniumchloride (0.082 g) in DMA (50 ml) was reacted in a microwave at 150° C. for 45 minutes. Then the reaction mixture was poured out into water and extracted with EtOAc/DIPE. The extracts were washed with water and filtered over Extrelut™, then the solvent was evaporated. The aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane and filtered over Extrelut™. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by high-performance reverse phase liquid chromatography. The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (159).

EXAMPLE B18

Butyllithium (0.0011 mol) was added dropwise under N₂ at −78° C. to a solution of compound (271) (0.0005 mol) in THF (5 ml) and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. Then a mixture of iodopropane (0.0006 mol) in THF (5 ml) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at −78° C. The mixture was allowed to warm overnight and then a saturated NH₄Cl-solution (5 ml) was added. The organic layer was separated, washed, filtered over Extrelut™ and the solvent was evaporated. The residue (0.170 g) was purified on a prepacked silicagel liquid chromatography column (5 g) (eluent:hexane/EtOAc 10/1). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by high-performance reverse phase liquid chromatography. The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (166).

EXAMPLE B19

A mixture of compound (271) (0.00013 mol), Pd₂(dibenzylideneacetone)₃ complex (0.026 g), 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (0.033 g) and Zn/Zn(CN)₂ (0.012 g/0.105 g) in DMA (50 ml) was reacted in a microwave at 150° C. for 15 minutes, then the reaction mixture was poured out into water and extracted with EtOAc/DIPE. The extracts were washed with water and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by solid phase extraction on a prepacked silicagel liquid chromatography column (eluent:CH₂Cl₂). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.055 g of compound (272).

A mixture of compound (272) (0.001 mol) in a solution of ammonia in methanol (50 ml) was hydrogenated at 14° C. with Raney nickel (cat. quant.) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen (2 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane, the solution was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated, yielding 0.270 g of compound (273).

A solution of compound (273) (0.00015 mol) and N,N-diethylethanamine (0.0003 mol) in dichloromethane (q.s.) was stirred for 15 minutes at room temperature. Then a mixture of 4-chlorobutanoyl chloride [4635-59-0] (0.000165 mol) in dichloromethane (2.5 ml) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The mixture was washed with HCl (1N), with a 5% NaHCO₃ solution and with water. The resulting mixture was filtered over Extrelut™ and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.072 g of compound (274) (colourless oil).

N,N,N-triethylbenzenemethanaminium chloride (0.00015 mol) and sodium hydroxide (50%) (0.5 ml) were added to a solution of compound (274) (0.00014 mol) in dichloromethane (5 ml) and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The mixture was washed 2 times with HCl (1N), with a 5% NaHCO₃ solution and with water. The resulting mixture was filtered over Extrelut™ and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.050 g of a colourless oil. The residue was purified by solid phase extraction on a prepacked silicagel liquid chromatography column (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 90/10). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.024 g of compound (160).

EXAMPLE B20

A mixture of intermediate (29) (0.0019 mol) in N,N-diethylethanamine (2 ml) and dichloromethane (15 ml) was stirred and 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole (0.002 mol) was added. Then N′-(ethylcarbonimidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (0.002 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes. 2-Adamantanamine hydrochloride (0.0022 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. A citric acid solution. (2 ml) was added and the resulting mixture was filtered through Extrelut™. The filtrate was evaporated and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography on TRIKONEX FlashTube™ (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc 90/10). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. This residual fraction was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography, then the product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.155 g (25%) of compound (171).

A mixture of compound (171) (0.00044 mol) in methanol (50 ml) was hydrogenated overnight with palladium on activated carbon (0.1 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen (1 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated, then the residue was dried (vac.), yielding 0.12 g of compound (172).

EXAMPLE B21

A mixture of compound (170) (0.0006 mol) and formaldehyde (0.2 g) in methanol (40 ml) was hydrogenated at 50° C. with palladium on activated carbon (0.05 g) as a catalyst in the presence of a thiophene solution (0.1 ml). After uptake of hydrogen (2 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane, washed with HCl (1N), with a 5% NaHCO₃ solution and with brine. The mixture was filtered over Extrelut™ and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/(CH₃OH/NH₃ (1%)) 90/10). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (192).

EXAMPLE B22

A mixture of compound (271) (0.0005 mol), 2-propenoic acid, phenylmethyl ester (0.002 mol), Pd₂(dibenzylideneacetone)₃ complex (0.0001 mol), tris(2-methylphenyl)phosphine [6163-58-2] (0.00025 mol) and N,N-dibutyl-1-butanamine (0.0025 mol) in DMF (5 ml) was stirred overnight at 90° C. and then the reaction mixture was cooled. Water (3 ml) was added and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was separated, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:dichloromethane). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.167 g of compound (198).

A mixture of compound (198) (0.0003 mol) in acetic acid (4 ml) and hydrochloric acid (2 ml) was stirred overnight at 60° C., then the reaction mixture was cooled and extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was separated, washed, dried, filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.045 g of compound (202).

EXAMPLE B23

A mixture of intermediate (36) (0.0013 mol) in dichloromethane (10 ml) and N,N-diethylethanamine (3 ml) was stirred and 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole (0.002 mol) was added. Then N′-(ethylcarbonimidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine monohydrochloride (0.002 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred for 10 minutes. After addition of DMF (2 ml), 2-adamantanamine hydrochloride (0.0016 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The mixture was washed with water (2 ml), with a potassium hydroxide solution and washed again with water. The organic layer was separated, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.176 g of compound (204).

A mixture of compound (204) (0.00036 mol) in a solution of TFA in dichloromethane (28%) (3 ml) was stirred for 3 hours and then the solvent was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and the solution was washed with a Na₂CO₃ solution. The organic layer was separated, filtered through Extrelut™ and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.116 g of compound (208).

EXAMPLE B24

A mixture of 1-[(2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-1-yl)carbonyl]-3-methyl-1H-imidazolium, iodide [548763-29-7] (0.0028 mol) and 2-adamantanamine hydrochloride (0.0028 mol) in N,N-diethylethanamine (2 ml) and a mixture of dichloromethane, THF and DMF (1/1/0.5) (50 ml) was stirred over the weekend, then the reaction mixture was poured out into water and extracted with dichloromethane. The extracts were washed with a solution of citric acid (15%) and the organic layer was dried, then filtered. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography on TRIKONEX FlashTube™ (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc 90/10). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.18 g of compound (252).

EXAMPLE B25

2-Isocyanato-tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane [71189-14-5] (0.0053 mol) was added to a solution of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (0.00586 mol) in EtOAc (10 ml) and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was crystallised from 2-propanol. Finally, the desired product was collected, yielding 0.500 g compound (200); m.p. 163-165° C.

EXAMPLE B26

1-[(3,4-dihydro-1 (2H)-quinolinyl)carbonyl]-3-methyl-1H-imidazolium, iodide [213134-25-9] (0.01 mol) was added to a solution of 4-amino-tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]-decan-1-ol [75375-89-2] (0.01 mol) and N,N-diethylethanamine (0.01 mol) in a mixture of dichloromethane, THF and DMF (1/1/0.2) (100 ml) and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The mixture was washed with 1N HCl, with 2N potassium hydroxide and with sodium chloride, then dried and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:hexane/EtOAc 3/1−>1/1). Two product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.5 g (46%) of compound (219); m.p. 185-188° C. and 1.4 g (44%) of compound (218); m.p. 170-172° C.

EXAMPLE B27

1-Methylpiperazine (0.0015 mol) was added in one portion to a solution of compound (270) (0.0003 mol) in dichloromethane (5 ml) and then the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. Sodium hydroxide (1N) (1 ml) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred vigorously for 30 minutes. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted. The organic layer was dried, filtered off and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (231).

EXAMPLE B28

Morpholine (0.0012 mol) was added to a solution of compound (270) (0.00044 mol) in dichloromethane (10 ml) and then the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. Sodium hydroxide (1N) (1 ml) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred vigorously for 15 minutes. The aqueous layer was separated and then the organic layer was washed with water and filtered through Extrelut™. The filtrate was evaporated and the residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (232).

EXAMPLE B29

A mixture of 1-isoquinolinecarboxylic acid (0.0056 mol) in DMF (50 ml) was stirred and 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole (0.0067 mol) was added. Then N′-(ethylcarbon-imidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine monohydrochloride (0.00067 mol) was added and the mixture was stirred for 20 minutes. 1-Adamantanamine [768-94-5] (0.0067 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours. The resulting mixture was poured out into water and was then extracted with EtOAc. The separated organic layer was washed, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residual fraction was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:dichloromethane). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1.5 g of compound (265).

A mixture of compound (265) (0.004 mol) and hydrochloric acid (12N) (1 ml) in methanol (50 ml) was hydrogenated overnight with platinum on activated carbon (1 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen (2 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and washed with a sodium carbonate solution. The organic layer was separated, dried (MgSO₄), filtered off and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1−>95/5). Two product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 0.8 g of compound (267).

EXAMPLE B30

Compound 238 (0.0036 mol) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (50 ml) and the solution was cooled to −70° C., then DAST (0.0015 mol) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min. at −70° C. After removing the cold bath, the mixture was allowed to reach room temperature in 1 hour and then a satd. NaHCO₃ soln. was added portionwise. The separated organic layer was washed with water and with brine, then dried, filtered and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 98/2). The product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated, yielding 1 g compound (278)(LCMS: 94% P).

A mixture of compound (278) (0.002 mol) in THF (50 ml) was hydrogenated with Pd/C 10% (0.2 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen (2 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated (vac.). The residue was triturated under DIPE and after collection the crude product was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 99/1). The product fractions were collected and their solvent was evaporated, yielding compound (279).

EXAMPLE B31

A suspension of intermediate 12 (0.0192 mol), N′-(ethylcarbonimidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (0.021 mol) and HOBt (0.021 mol) in DMF (10 ml) was stirred for 30 min. at room temperature, then 2-amino-adamantane hydrochloride[62058-03-1] (0.0231 mol) in DMF (q.s.) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The resulting crude was triturated under DIPE and the desired product was collected, yielding 7.8 g of compound (280) (83%).

A mixture of compound (280)(0.0065 mol) in THF (150 ml) was hydrogenated with B (1 g) as a catalyst. After uptake of hydrogen (2 equiv.), the catalyst was filtered off and the filtrate was evaporated (vac.), yielding 2.6 g of compound (281) (100%).

A solution of compound (281)(0.00024 mol), N′-(ethylcarbonimidoyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (0.000275 mol) and HOBt (0.000275 mol) in DMF (10 ml) was stirred for 30 min. at room temperature and then B (0.000325 mol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, washed with water and with a 5% NaHCO₃ soln. and then was filtered through Extrelut™. The solvent was evaporated and the residue (0.200 g) was purified by column chromatography over silica gel (2 g) (eluent:CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH 95/5). The pure product fractions were collected and the solvent was evaporated. Finally, the desired product was dried (vac.), yielding 0.106 g of compound (277).

Tables 1, 2 and 3 list compounds of the present invention as prepared according to one of the above examples. TABLE 1

Co. No. Ex No. R¹ R²

—R³ T Physical data 16 B3 — — —(CH₂)₃—

— 17  B12 — — —(CH₂)₂— —C(CH₃)₃ — 18  B12 — — —(CH₂)₂— —C(CH₃)₂—CH₂—C(CH₃)₃ — 19  B12 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 20  B12 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 21  B12 — — —(CH₂)₄— —C(CH₃)₃ — 22  B12 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 23  B12 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 24  B12 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 25  B12 — — —(CH₂)₅—

— 26  B12 — — —(CH₂)₅—

— 1 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-Cl 27 B1 — — —(CH₂)₂—

4-Cl 28 B1 CH₃ — —

— 2 B2 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 29 B1 C₂H₅ — —

— 30 B1 — — —

— 31  B13 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 32 B1 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 33  B13 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 34  B13 — — —(CH₂)₂

— 35  B13 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 36  B13 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 37  B13 — — —(CH₂)₆—

— 38 B1 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 39 B1 — — —(CH₂)₃—

4-Cl 40 B2 — — —(CH₂)₃—

— 41 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-F — 42 B1

— —

— 43 B1 CH₃O — —

— 44 B1

—C(CH3)₃—O—CO—NH —

— 45 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 46 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 4 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-OCH₃ 47 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-OCH₃ 48 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 49 B1 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 5 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-OH 50 B1 —NH₂ — —

— 51 B1 —NH₂ — —

— isomeric form of comp 50 52 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-N(CH₃)₂ 53 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-O—(CH₂)₂—CH₃ 54 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

55  B13 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 56  B13 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 57  B13 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 58  B13 — — —(CH₂)₄—

— 59  B13 — — —(CH₂)₅—

— 60  B13 — — —(CH₂)₅—

— 61 B1 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 62 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 63 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 64 B1 — — —(CH₂)₂—

— 6 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-O—(CH₂)₂—COOH 65 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

9 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 66 B1

— —

— 67 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

68 B1 CH₃ — —

69 B1 — — —

70 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-OH 71 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

7 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

72 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-O—CH₂—COOH 73 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

74 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-O—CH₃ 75 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-O—CH₃ 76 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-NH₂ 77 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-NH—CH₃ 78 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-N(CH₃)₂ 79 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-NH₂ 80 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-NH—CH₃ 81 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

4-N(CH₃)—(CH₂)—C₆H₅ 82 B1 —N(CH₃)—₂ — —

— 83 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-Cl 84 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-F 85 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-CF₃ 86 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3,4 (—OCH₃)₂ 87 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

2,4-F₂ 88 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

2,5-F₂ 89 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-CH₃ 90 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 91 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 92 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-O—(CH₂)₃—N(CH₃)₂ 8 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 93 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

2,5 (—O—CH₃) 94 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

2-O—C₆H₅ 95 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3,5 F₂ 96 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— form of form of comp 90 97 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 98 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— isomeric form of comp 97 99 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 100 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— isomeric form of comp 99 101 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 102 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— isomeric form of comp 101 103 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— isomeric form of comp 102 104 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— isomeric form of comp 103 105 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 106 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

2,4 Cl₂ 3 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

3,5 (CH₃)₂ 107 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-NH—CO—(CH₂)₃—Cl 108 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 109 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 110 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 111 B3 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 12 B9 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 112 B4 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-NH—CO—CH₃ 113 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

114 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

115 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

116 B5 CH₃ CH₃ —

13  B10 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 14  B11 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 117 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-O—CH₃ 118 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-O—CH₃ 119 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-CH₃ 120 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-CH₃ 121 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

3,5 (—CH₃)₂ 122 B6 CH₃ CH₃ —

3,5 (—CH₃)₂ isomeric form of comp 121 10 B7 CH₃ CH₃ —

— 123 B1 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-N(CH₃)—CO—CH₃ 11 B8 CH₃ CH₃ —

3-OH

TABLE 2

Co. Ex. Physical No. No. Q n R¹ R² R³ R⁴ data 124 B3

0 — — H

125 B3

0 — —

126 B1

0 — — H

127 B1

0 — — H

128 B6

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

129 B1

2 —N(CH₃)₂ H H

130 B1

1 H H H

131 B5 —O—CH₂—COOH 1 CH₃ CH₃ H

132 B3

1 CH₃ CH₃ CH₃

133 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

134 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

135 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

136 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

137 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

138 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

139 B1

1 H H H

140 B1

2 CH₃ H H

141 B1

0 — — H

142 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

143 B1

2 CH₃ CH₃ H

144 B1

2 CH₃ CH₃ H

145 B1

0 — — H

146 B1

1 ═0 — H

147 B1

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

148 B6

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

149 B6

1 CH₃ CH₃ H

150 B4

0 — — H

154 B1 2,5 methoxy-phenyl 1 CH₃ CH₃ H

TABLE 3

Co. No. Ex. No. Q R¹ R² R³ R⁴ Physical data 151 B1

H CH₃ H

152 B1

H H H

153 B1

CH₃ H H

Table 4 lists the compounds that were prepared according to one of the above Examples. The following abbreviations were used in the tables: .HCl stands for the hydrochloric acid salt. TABLE 4

Co. No. 155; Ex. B1 Co. No. 214; Ex. B1

Co. No. 156; Ex. B1 Co. No. 215; Ex. B1

Co. No. 157; Ex. B1 Co. No. 216; Ex. B1

.HCl; Co. No. 158; Ex. B5 Co. No. 217; Ex. B22

Co. No. 159; Ex. B17 Co. No. 218; Ex. B26

Co. No. 160; Ex. B19 Co. No. 219; Ex. B26

Co. No. 161; Ex. B14 Co. No. 220; Ex. B20

Co. No. 162; Ex. B1 Co. No. 221; Ex. B1

Co. No. 163; Ex. B1 Co. No. 222; Ex. B1

Co. No. 164; Ex. B1 Co. No. 223; Ex. B1

Co. No. 165; Ex. B1 Co. No. 224; Ex. B1

Co. No. 166; Ex. B18 Co. No. 225; Ex. B20

Co. No. 167; Ex. B1 Co. No. 226; Ex. B7

Co. No. 168; Ex. B1 Co. No. 227; Ex. B5

Co. No. 169; Ex. B1 .HCl; Co. No. 228; Ex. B5

Co. No. 170; Ex. B14 Co. No. 229; Ex. B22

Co. No. 171; Ex. B1 Co. No. 230; Ex. B16

Co. No. 172; Ex. B20 Co. No. 231; Ex. B28

Co. No. 173; Ex. B1 Co. No. 232; Ex. B28

Co. No. 174; Ex. B1 Co. No. 233; Ex. B16

Co. No. 175; Ex. B1 Co. No. 234; Ex. B1

Co. No. 176; Ex. B16 Co. No. 235; Ex. B22

Co. No. 177; Ex. B1 Co. No. 236; Ex. B20

Co. No. 178; Ex. B15 Co. No. 237; Ex. B16

Co. No. 179; Ex. B1 Co. No. 238; Ex. B1

Co. No. 180; Ex. B16 Co. No. 239; Ex. B20

Co. No. 181; Ex. B1 Co. No. 240; Ex. B16

Co. No. 182; Ex. B1 Co. No. 241; Ex. B1

Co. No. 183; Ex. B1 Co. No. 242; Ex. B16

Co. No. 184; Ex. B1 Co. No. 243; Ex. B1

Co. No. 185; Ex. B1 Co. No. 244; Ex. B7

Co. No. 186; Ex. B7 Co. No. 245; Ex. B1

Co. No. 187; Ex. B7 Co. No. 246; Ex. B16

Co. No. 188; Ex. B7 Co. No. 247; Ex. B1

Co. No. 189; Ex. B7 Co. No. 248; Ex. B16

Co. No. 190; Ex. B7 Co. No. 249; Ex. B7

Co. No. 191; Ex. B15 Co. No. 250; Ex. B7

Co. No. 192; Ex. B21 Co. No. 251; Ex. B7

Co. No. 193; Ex. B16 Co. No. 252; Ex. B24

Co. No. 194; Ex. B1 Co. No. 253; Ex. B14

Co. No. 195; Ex. B1 Co. No. 254; Ex. B16

Co. No. 196; Ex. B16 Co. No. 255; Ex. B23

Co. No. 197; Ex. B1 Co. No. 256; Ex. B23

Co. No. 198; Ex. B22 Co. No. 257; Ex. B20

Co. No. 199; Ex. B5 Co. No. 258; Ex. B16

Co. No. 200; Ex. B25 Co. No. 259; Ex. B22

Co. No. 201; Ex. B25 Co. No. 260; Ex. B16

Co. No. 202; Ex. B22 Co. No. 261; Ex. B22

Co. No. 203; Ex. B1 Co. No. 262; Ex. B1

Co. No. 204; Ex. B1 Co. No. 263; Ex. B7

Co. No. 205; Ex. B7 Co. No. 264; Ex. B16

.HCl; Co. No. 206, Ex. B1 Co. No. 265; Ex. B1

Co. No. 207, Ex. B1 Co. No. 266; Ex. B1

Co. No. 208; Ex. B23 Co. No. 267; Ex. B29

Co. No. 209; Ex. B1 Co. No. 268; Ex. B29

Co. No. 210; Ex. B1 Co. No. 269; Ex. B1

Co. No. 211; Ex. B1 Co. No. 275; Ex. B1

Co. No. 212; Ex. B1 Co. No. 276; Ex. B1

Co. No. 213; Ex. B1 Co. 277; No.; Ex. B31 Co. No. NMR data melting point (° C.) 155 165-167 156 (CDCl₃) 1.25-1.45 (m, adamantane-H); 1.54 (s, 3H, 2xMe); 1.56-1.72 (m, adamantane-H); 2.10 (m, adamantane-H); 2.38 (s, 3H, Me); 3.82 (m, 1H, CH); 5.38 (bd, NH); 7.10 (d, 1H, H- aromatic); 7.18 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.27 (t, 1H-aromatic) 157 (CDCl₃) 1.15-1.35 (m, adamantane-H); 1.55 (s, 3H, 2xMe); 1.65-2.05 (m, adamantane-H); 2.35 (s, 3H, Me); 3.92 (m, 1H, CH—NH); 5.32 (bd, 1H, NH) 7.10 (d, 1H, Ar-H), 7.20 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 7.27 (t, 1H, Ar-H) 158 155-160 162 CDCl₃; δ 1.64-2.05 (m, 14H-adamantane); 4.23 (d, CH); 5.30 (d, CH₂); 6,14 (d, NH); 6.22 (t, CH); 6.86-7.48 (m, 4H-aromatic) 162 CDCl₃; δ 1.59-2.30 (m, 13H-adamantane); 4.12 (d, CH); 6.18 (d, NH); 7.31-7.43 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.81 (d, 2H-aromatic); 8.26 (d, 1H-aromatic) 164 CDCl₃; δ 1.50-2.24 (m, 13H-adamantane); 4.22 (d, CH); 6.15 (d, NH); 7.31-7.42 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.81 (d, 2H-aromatic); 8.25(d, 1H-aromatic) 165 CDCl₃; δ 1.10-1.83 (m, 14H-adamantane + 2x CH₂); 2.38 (m, CH₂); 2.83 (t, CH₂); 3.95 (d, CH); 5.55 (d, NH); 7.15-7.38 (m, 4H-aromatic) 166 CDCl₃; δ 0.92 (t, CH₃); 1.22 and 1.47 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.58 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.60-1.82 (m, 10H-adamantane); 2.59 (t, CH₂); 3.94 (d, CH); 5,47 (d, NH); 7.11-7.31 (m, 4H-aromatic) 167 CDCl₃; δ 1.22-1.91 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.15 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 2.50 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 3.63 (m, CH); 4.05 (m, CH₂); 4.08 (d, CH); 5.96 (d, NH); 6.88-7.25 (m, 4H-aromatic) 168 CDCl₃; δ 1.5-2.0 (m, 16H, H-adamantane and CH₂); 2.25 (quint., CH₂); 2.59 (t, CH₂); 4.15 (d, CH); 6,02 (d, NH); 7.28-7.32 (m, 4H-aromatic, CH) 169 CDCl₃; δ 1.22-1.95 (m, 18H, H-adamantane and 2xCH₂); 2.43 (m, CH); 2.78 (t, CH₂); 3.72 (dd, CH); 4.08 (d, CH); 5.72 (d, NH); 7.12-7.22 (m, 4H-aromatic) 171 CDCl₃; δ 1.65-2.03 (m, 14H-adamantane); 3.88 (s, CH₃); 4.22 (d, CH); 4.86 (d, CH₂); 6.12 (d, NH); 6.26 (t, CH); 6.86-7.11 (m, 3H-aromatic) 172 CDCl₃; δ 1.23-1.91 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.15 and 2.53 (2x m, CH₂); 3.64 (m, CH); 3.91 (s, CH₃); 4.08 (m, CH₂); 4.42 (m, CH); 6.03 (d, NH); 6.74-6.94 (m, 3H-aromatic) 173 CDCl₃; δ 1.21-1.91 (m, 14H-adamantane + CH₂); 2.36 and 2.56 and 2.81 (3x m, 2x CH₂); 3.67 (t, CH); 3.85 (s, CH₃); 4.01 (d, CH); 5.72 (d, NH); 6.77 (d, 2H-aromatic); 7.18 (t, 1H-aromatic) 174 CDCl₃; δ 1.24 and 1.40 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.56 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.68-2.00 (m, 9H-adamantane); 3.92 (d, CH); 5,45 (d, NH); 7.25-7.55 (m, 4H-aromatic) 175 CDCl₃; δ 1.30-1.74 (m, 13H-adamantane); 1.54 (s, 2x CH₃); 3.75 (dt, CH); 5,35 (d, NH); 7.28-7.52 (m, 4H-aromatic) 176 CDCl₃: 1.51-1.88 (m, 15H-adamantane); 2.16 (s, CH₃); 3.87 (dt, CH); 5.12 (d, NH); 6.11 (d, NH); 7.27-7.36 (m, 3H-aromatic). 177 CDCl₃; δ 1.44-1.96 (m, 14H-adamantane); 3.30 (dd, H^(A)-CH₂); 3.61 (dd, H^(B)-CH₂); 4.05 (d, CH); 4.23 (dd, CH); 6.09 (m, NH); 7.14-7.31 (m, 4H-aromatic) 178 Aceton d-6; δ 1.38-1.74 (m, 14H-adamantane); 1.62 (s, 2x CH₃); 3.15 (m, CH₂); 3.48 (s, 3x CH₃); 3.94 (m, CH and CH₂); 5.68 (d, NH); 7.28-7.39 (m, 4H-aromatic) 179 CDCl₃; δ 1.61-2.4 (m, 14H-adamantane); 3.39 (d, CH₂); 4.22 (dt, CH); 6.03 (m, NH); 6.51 (t, CH); 7.16 (m, 2H- aromatic); 7.34 and 7.50 (2x m, 2H-aromatic) 180 CDCl₃; δ 1.27-1.72 (m, 14H-adamantane); 1.59 (s, 2x CH₃); 3.97 (d, CH); 5.46 (d, NH); 6.35 (d, CH); 7.40-7.55 (m, 4H- aromatic); 7.59 (d, CH) 181 CDCl₃; δ 1.64-2.30 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.27 (s, 2x CH₃); 2.34 (m, CH₂); 2.69 (t, CH₂); 4.23 (d, CH); 6.12 (d, NH); 6.49 (t, CH); 6.91 and 7.12 (2x s, 2H-aromatic) 182 CDCl₃; δ 1.17-1.85 (m, 14H-adamantane); 1.99 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 2.88 (m, H^(B)-CH₂ and H^(A)-CH₂); 3.08 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 3.75 (t, CH); 4.00 (d, CH); 6.72 (d, NH); 7.03-7.21 (m, 4H-aromatic) 183 CDCl₃; δ 1.22-2.15 (m, 14H-adamantane + CH₂); 2.32 (m, H^(A)- CH₂); 2.55 (m, H^(B)-CH₂ and H^(A)-CH₂); 2.70 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 3.65 (t, CH); 3.83 (s, CH₃); 3.89 (dt, CH); 5.62 (d, NH); 6.75 (t, 2H-aromatic); 7.17 (t, H-aromatic) 184 CDCl₃; δ 1.15-2.05 (m, 14H-adamantane + CH₂); 2.36 (m, H^(A)- CH₂); 2.56 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 2.70 (m, CH₂); 3.66t, CH); 3.84 (s, CH₃); 3.98 (d, CH); 5.59 (d, NH); 6.75 (t, 2H-aromatic); 7.18 (t, H-aromatic) 185 CDCl₃; δ 1.20-1.92 (m, 14H-adamantane + CH₂); 2.21 and 2.27 (2x s, 2x CH₃); 2.34 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 2.54 (m, H^(B)-CH₂ and H^(A)-CH₂); 2.69 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 4.02 (dt, CH); 5.72 (d, NH); 6.81 and 6.93 (2x s, 2H-aromatic) 186 CDCl3₃; δ 1.35-1.45 (m, adamantane-H); 1.57 (s, 3H, 2xMe); 1.60-1.82 (m, adamantane-H); 2.15 (m, adamantane-H); 2.38 (s, 3H, Me); 3.82 (m, 1H, CH—NH); 5.32 (bd, 1H, NH); 7.10 (d, 1H, Ar-H); 7.18 (m, 2H, Ar-H); 7.27 (t, 1H, Ar-H) 187 115-117 188 110-112 189 105-107 190 CDCl₃; δ 1.19-2.13 (m, 13H-adamantane); 1.54 (s, 2x CH₃); 3.95 (d, CH); 5.37 (d, NH); 7.22-7.54 (m, 4H-aromatic) 194 CDCl₃; δ 1.60-2.29 (m, 14H-adamantane); 3.41 (dd, H^(A)-CH₂); 3.55 (dd, H^(A)-CH₂); 4.23 (s, CH); 4.26 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 4.41 (m, H^(B)- CH₂); 4.48 (dd, CH); 5.19 (brd, ═CH2); 5.93 (m, ═CH); 7.06- 7.26 (m, 4H-aromatic) 195 CDCl₃; δ 1.65-2.06 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.35 (m, CH₂); 2.72 (t, CH₂); 3.77 (s, CH₃); 4.24 (d, CH); 6.15 (d, NH); 6.54 (t, CH); 6.75 (dd, H-aromatic); 7.18 (m, 2H-aromatic) 196 CDCl₃; δ 1.20-1.72 (m, 14H-adamantane); 1.58 (s, 2x CH₃); 2.67 and 2.97 (2xt, 2x CH₂); 3.95 (d, CH); 5,48 (d, NH); 7.14- 7.34 (m, 4H-aromatic); 197 CDCl₃; δ 1.40-1.94 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.30-2.53 (m, CH₂); 2.87-3.09 (m, CH₂); 3.94 (dd, CH); 4.05 (d, CH); 5.71 (d, NH); 7.20-7.32 (m, 4H-aromatic) 198 CDCl₃; δ 1.28 and 1.49 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.58 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.62-1.82 (m, 10H-adamantane); 3.96 (d, CH); 5.26 (s, CH₂); 5.44 (d, NH); 6.50 (d, CH); 7.33-7.54 (m, 9H-aromatic); 7.72 (d, CH) 199 165-170 200 163-165 201 145-147 202 CDCl₃; δ 1.29 and 1.51 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.61 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.65-1.84 (m, 10H-adamantane); 3.98 (d, CH); 5,49 (d, NH); 6.48 (d, CH); 7.40-7.58 (m, 9H-aromatic); 7.80 (d, CH) 203 CDCl₃; δ 1.26-1.88 (m, 14H-adamantane + CH₂); 1.88-1.98 (m, CH₂); 2.32 and 2.75 (2x m, 2x CH₂); 3.69 (t, CH); 3.77 (s, CH₃); 4.03 (d, CH); 5.68 (d, NH); 6.66 (d, H-aromatic); 6.80 (dd, H- aromatic); 7.09 (d, 1H-aromatic) 204 CDCl₃; δ 1.50-1.95 (m, 14H-adamantane, 3x CH₃); 2.88 (t, CH₂); 3.58 and 3.81 (m, CH₂); 4.00 (d, CH); 5.49 (s, CH); 7.10- 7.28 (m, 4H-aromatic) 205 CDCl₃; δ 1.19 and 1.37 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.50 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.80-2.1 (m, 9H-adamantane); 3.94 (d, CH); 5.25 (d, NH); 5.26 (s, CH₂); 6.51 (d, CH); 7.35-7.54 (m, 9H-aromatic); 7.72 (d, CH) 206 CDCl₃; δ 1.63-2.05 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.34 (m, CH₂); 2.78 (t, CH₂); 3.81 (s, CH₃); 4.23 (d, CH); 6.14 (d, NH); 6.38 (t, CH); 6.73 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.39 (m, 1H-aromatic) 207 CDCl₃; δ 1.63-2.28 (m, 14H-adamantane); 4.30 (dd, CH₂); 4.34 (s, CH); 5.21 (m, CH₂); 5.95 (m, ═CH); 6.85 (d, CH); 7.30- 7.52 (m, 5H-aromatic); 7.68 (d, CH) 208 CDCl₃; δ 1.50-1.92 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.75-2.92 (m, CH₂); 3.09-3.21 (m, CH₂); 4.00 (d, CH); 4.63 (s, CH); 7.05-7.22 (m, 3H-aromatic); 7.53 (m, 1H-aromatic); 7.59 (d, NH) 209 CDCl₃; δ 1.28 and 1.51 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.57 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.66 and 1.78 (2xm, 9H-adamantane); 2.36 (s, CH₃); 3.96 (d, CH); 5.25 (s, CH₂); 5,46 (d, NH); 6.48 (d, CH); 7.20- 7.42 (m,9H-aromatic); 7.70 (d, CH) 210 CDCl₃; δ 1.31 and 1.50 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.55 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.67 and 1.78 (2xm, 10H-adamantane); 2.33 (s, CH₃); 3.79 (s, CH₃); 3.95 (d, CH); 5,55 (d, NH); 6.62; 6.73 and 6.79 (3xs, 3H-aromatic) 211 CDCl₃; δ 1.24 and 1.36 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.56 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.60 and 1.82 (2xm, 10H-adamantane); 2.28 (s, CH₃); 4.01 (d, CH); 5,49 (d, NH); 7.15-7.26 (m, 3H-aromatic); 7.39- 7.48 (s, 1H-aromatic) 212 CDCl₃; δ 1.32-1.85 (m, 14H-adamantane); 1.50 (d, CH₃); 3.88 (s, CH₃); 3.96 (d, CH); 4.05 (q, CH); 6.12 (d, NH); 6.88- 7.10 and 7.22-7.34 (2xm, 4H-aromatic) 213 CDCl₃; δ 1.26 and 1.43 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.60 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.65 and 1.79 (2xm, 10H-adamantane); 3.65-3.78 (m, 4x CH₂); 3.96 (d, CH); 5,47 (d, NH); 6.83 (d, CH); 7.38-7.52 (m, 3H-aromatic); 7.70 (d, CH) 214 CDCl₃; δ 1.28-2.18 (m, 13H-adamantane); 1.58 (s, 2xCH₃); 3.36 (dt, CH); 5.27 (s, CH₂); 5.36 (d, NH); 6.50 (d, CH); 7.34- 7.52 (m, 9H-aromatic); 7.70 (d, CH) 215 CDCl₃; δ 1.18-2.10 (m, 13H-adamantane); 1.58 (s, 2xCH₃); 3.93 (dt, CH); 5.25 (s, CH₂); 5.31 (d, NH); 6.50 (d, CH); 7.34- 7.54 (m, 9H-aromatic); 7.73 (d, CH) 216 CDCl₃; δ 1.28 (d, CH₃); 1.63-2.06 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.19 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 2.50 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 2.93 (m CH); 4.24 (d, CH); 6.13 (d, NH); 6.46 (t, CH); 7.18-7.47 (m, 4H-aromatic) 217 CDCl₃; δ 1.15 and 1.36 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.59 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.80-2.10 (m, 10H-adamantane); 2.67 (t, CH₂); 2.97 (t, CH₂); 3.94 (d, CH); 5.39 (d, NH); 7.12-7.40 (m, 4H-aromatic) 218 170-172 219 185-188 220 CDCl₃; δ 1.21-1.86 (m, 14H-adamantane, CH₂); 1.92 (m, H^(A)- CH₂); 2.34 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 2.80 (m, CH₂); 3.63 (d, CH); 5.68 (d, NH); 6.70-6.78 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.06 (d, H-aromatic) 221 CDCl₃; δ 1.18 and 1.40 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.50 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.58 and 1.72 (2xm, 10H-adamantane); 2.28 (t, 2xCH₂); 2.35 (m, 2xCH₂); 2.58 (t, CH₂); 3.65 (t, 2xCH₂); 3.88 (dt, CH); 5.38 (d, NH); 7.05-7.25 (m, 4H-aromatic) 222 CDCl₃; δ 1.66-2.06 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.38 (m, CH₂); 2.74 (t, CH₂); 4.22 (d, CH); 6.11 (d, NH); 6.52 (t, CH); 7.04 (d, H-aromatic); 7.30 (d, H-aromatic); 7.65 (s, H-aromatic) 223 CDCl₃; δ 1.64-2.05 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.40 (m, CH₂); 2.94 (t, CH₂); 4.22 (d, CH); 6.11 (d, NH); 6.49 (t, CH); 7.07 (t, H- aromatic); 7.42 (m, 2H-aromatic) 224 CDCl₃; δ 1.59-1.95 (m, 14H-adamantane); 1.98 and 2.10 (2x m, CH₂); 2.55 (m CH); 2.86-3.08 (m, 2x CH₂); 4.08 (dt, CH); 5.78 (d, NH); 7.08-7.15 (m, 4H-aromatic) 225 CDCl₃; δ 1.29-2.00 (m, 14H-adamantane, CH₂); 2.30 (m, CH₂); 2.76 (m, CH₂); 3.63 (t, CH); 4.02 (d, CH); 5.60 (d, NH); 7.04 (d, H-aromatic); 7.33 (m, 2H-aromatic) 226 182-184 227 210-215 228 208-210 229 CDCl₃; δ 1.60-2.08 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.39 (m, CH₂); 2.81 (t, CH₂); 4.24 (d, CH); 5.22 (s, CH₂); 6.14 (d, NH); 6.44 (d, CH); 6.53 (t, CH); 7.16-7.43 (m, 9H-aromatic) 230 CDCl₃; δ 1.28 and 1.50 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.55 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.66 and 1.78 (2xm, 10H-adamantane); 2.32 (s, CH₃); 2.63 (t, CH₂); 2.93 (t, CH₂); 3.94 (dt, CH); 5.53 (d, NH); 6.90- 7.10 (m, 3H-aromatic) 231 CDCl₃; δ 1.22 and 1.46 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.58 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.64 and 1.76 (2xm, 10H-adamantane); 2.30 (s, CH₃); 2.40-2.54 (m, 4xCH₂); 3.51 (s, CH₂); 3.94 (d, CH); 5.44 (d, NH); 7.23-7.36 (m, 4H-aromatic) 232 CDCl₃; δ 1.22 and 1.48 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.60 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.64-1.76 (m, 10H-adamantane); 2.42 (m, 2xCH₂); 3.51 (s, CH₂); 3.70 (m, 2xCH₂); 3.94 (d, CH); 5.45 (d, NH); 7.22- 7.38 (m, 4H-aromatic) 234 CDCl₃; δ 1.62-1.99 (m, 14H-adamantane, CH₂); 2.91 (dd, H^(A)- CH₂); 3.30 (dd, H^(B)-CH₂); 4.05-4.13 (m, 2x CH); 6.06 (d, NH); 7.44-7.80 (m, 4H-aromatic) 235 CDCl₃; δ 1.64-2.07 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.39 (m, CH₂); 2.91 (t, CH₂); 4.23 (d, CH); 5.27 (s, CH₂); 6.12 (d, NH); 6.39 (d, CH); 6.52 (t, CH); 7.19-7.50 (m, 9H-aromatic); 8.08 (d, CH) 238 CDCl₃; δ 1.18-2.02 (m, 13H-adamantane); 1.56 (s, 2x CH₃); 2.38 (s, CH₃); 3.93 (dt, CH); 5.25 (s, CH₂); 5.32 (d, NH); 6.49 (d, CH); 7.20-7.42 (m, 8H-aromatic); 7.69 (d, CH) 239 CDCl₃; δ 1.23-1.93 (m, 14H-adamantane, CH₂); 2.34 (m, CH₂); 2.61-2.95 (m, CH₂); 3.68 (t, CH); 4.03 (d, CH); 5.60 (d, NH); 7.10 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.51 (m, 1H-aromatic) 240 CDCl₃; δ 1.19-1.97 (m, 14H-adamantane, CH₂); 2.38 (m, CH₂); 2.58-3.00 (m, 4xCH₂); 3.70 (t, CH); 4.01 (d, CH); 5.17 (d, NH); 7.01-7.18 (m, 3H-aromatic) 241 CDCl₃; δ 1.20-2.03 (m, 13H-adamantane); 1.58 (s, 2x CH₃); 2.39 (s, CH₃); 3.67-3.76 (m, 4xCH₂); 3.93 (dt, CH); 5.33 (d, NH); 6.82 (d, CH); 7.19; 7.26 and 7.32 (3x s, 3H-aromatic); 7.66 (d, CH) 243 CDCl₃; δ 1.45-2.15 (m, 13H-adamantane, CH₂); 2.58 (m, CH); 2.79-3.17 (m, 2xCH₂); 4.03 (d, CH); 5.75 (d, NH); 6.82 (d, CH); 7.05-7.15 (m, 4H-aromatic) 245 CDCl₃; δ 1.36-1.93 (m, 14H-adamantane, CH₂); 2.26 (m, CH2); 2.59-2.86 (m, CH₂); 3.62 (t, CH); 4.04 (d, CH); 5.61 (d, NH); 7.38 and 7.67 (2x d, 2H-aromatic) 246 CDCl₃; δ 1.18 and 1.36 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.53 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.69 and 1.72 and 1.99 (3xm, 9H-adamantane); 2.33 (s, CH₃); 2.64 (t, CH₂); 2.92 (t, CH₂); 3.91 (d, CH); 5.36 (d, NH); 6.95-7.05 (m, 3H-aromatic) 248 CDCl₃; δ 1.21-2.02 (m, 13H-adamantane); 1.54 (s, 2x CH₃); 2.32 (s, CH₃); 2.59 (t, CH₂); 2.93 (t, CH₂); 3.39 (t, CH₂); 3.58 (t, CH₂); 3.65 (m, 2xCH₂); 3.92 (d, CH); 5.36 (d, NH); 6.95-7.05 (m, 3H-aromatic) 249 CDCl₃; δ 1.18 and 1.38 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.56 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.58-2.10 (m, 9H-adamantane); 2.37 (s, CH₃); 3.94 (dt, CH); 5.25 (s, CH₂); 5.28 (d, NH); 6.48 (d, CH); 7.20-7.44 (m, 8H- aromatic); 7.70 (d, CH) 252 CDCl₃; δ 1.65-2.01 (m, 14H-adamantane); 3.19 (t, CH₂); 3.96 (t, CH₂); 4.08 (d, CH); 4.93 (d, NH); 6.90 (t, 1H-aromatic); 7.15 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.85 (d, 1H-aromatic) 253 CDCl₃; δ 1.45-1.90 (m, 14H-adamantane); 1.95 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 2.31 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 2.60 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 2.75 (m, H^(B)-CH₂); 3.90 (q, CH); 4.05 (dt, CH); 4.16 (d, NH); 6.70 (m, 2H- aromatic); 7.02 (m, 2H-aromatic); 7.22 (d, NH) 254 CDCl₃; δ 1.18 and 1.38 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.55 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.85-2.18 (m, 9H-adamantane); 2.32 (s, CH₃); 2.65 (t, CH₂); 2.93 (t, CH₂); 3.92 (dt, CH); 5.32 (d, NH); 6.95-7.15 (m, 3H-aromatic) 255 CDCl₃; δ 1.59-1.95 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.83 (dd, H^(A)- CH₂); 3.26 (dd, H^(B)-CH₂); 3.57 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 3.97-4.08 (m, 3H, 2xCH, H^(B)-CH₂); m, 2H-aromatic); 7.05-7.18 (m, 4H-aromatic); 7.68 (d, NH) 256 CDCl₃; δ 1.59-1.95 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.83 (dd, H^(A)- CH₂); 3.26 (dd, H^(B)-CH₂); 3.58 (m, H^(A)-CH₂); 3.97-4.08 (m, 3H, 2xCH, H^(B)-CH₂); m, 2H-aromatic); 7.05-7.18 (m, 4H-aromatic); 7.68 (d, NH) 257 215-220 258 LCMS M⁺ = 417, Retention time 4.01, 97% P 259 CDCl₃; δ 1.20 and 1.36 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.55 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.69; 1.83 and 1.98 (3x d, 9H-adamantane); 2.34 (s, CH₃); 3.30 (d, CH₂); 3.93 (dt, CH); 5.38 (d, NH); 6.28 (d, CH); 6.48 (d, CH); 7.07, 7.12 and 7.18 (3x s, 3H-aromatic) 260 CDCl₃; δ 1.14-2.02 (m, 13H-adamantane, CH₂); 1.56 (s, 2x CH₃); 2.33 (s, CH₃); 2.35 (t, CH₂); 2.63 (t, CH₂); 3.92 (d, CH); 5.38 (d, NH); 6.92, 6.98 and 7.04 (3x s, 3H-aromatic) 262 CDCl₃; δ 1.22-2.02 (m, 13H-adamantane, CH₂); 1.53 (s, 2x CH₃); 2.33 (s, CH₃); 3.79 (s, CH₃); 3.92 (d, CH); 5.42 (d, NH); 6.63, 6.74 and 6.78 (3x s, 3H-aromatic) 263 CDCl₃; δ 1.22 and 1.39 (2x d, 4H-adamantane); 1.54 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.83-2.19 (m, 9H-adamantane); 2.32 (s, CH₃); 3.78 (s, CH₃); 3.92 (d, CH); 5.36 (d, NH); 6.64, 6.74 and 6.78 (3x s, 3H-aromatic) 264 CDCl₃; δ 1.14-1.38 (m, 4H-adamantane); 1.55 (s, 2x CH₃); 1.62-1.99 (m, 9H-adamantane, 2xCH₂); 2.32 (s, CH₃); 2.36 (t, CH₂); 2.60 (t, CH₂); 3.90 (d, CH); 5.40 (d, NH); 6.85-7.10 (m, 3H-aromatic) 265 CDCl₃; δ 1.61-2.22 (m, 14H-adamantane); 7.60-8.00 (m, 5H- aromatic); 8.42 (d, H-arom.) 266 CDCl₃; δ 1.58-2.04 (m, 14H-adamantane); 3.21 (d, CH₂); 5.39 (d, NH); 7.63-7.87 (m, 5H-aromatic); 8.46 (d, H-arom.) 267 CDCl₃; δ 1.64 and 1.97 and 2.05 (2x brs, 14H-adamantane); 2.70-2.89 (m, CH₂); 3.09 (t, CH₂); 4.40 (s, CH); 6.93-7.19 (m, 4H-aromatic); 7.50 (m, NH) 268 CDCl₃; δ 1.39-1.97 (m, 14H-adamantane); 2.73-2.97 (m, 2xCH₂); 3.11 (m, CH₂); 4.59 (s, CH); 7.07-7.54 (m, 4H-aromatic) 269 LCMS retention time: 6.27 min., M⁺ = 411; 100% 275 CDCl₃: 1.23-1.46 (m, 5H-adamantane), 1.60 (s, 2x CH₃), 1.72 (m, 4H-adamantane), 1.85 (d, 2H-adamantane); 2.03 (brs, 3H- adamantane); 2.35 (s, CH₃); 3.96 (d, CH); 5.48 (d, NH); 7.50, 8.38 and 3.48 (3xd, 3H-aromatic) 276 CDCl₃: 1.43 (d, 3H-adamantane); 1.62 (s, 2xCH₃); 1.60-2.05 (m, 10H-adamantane); 2.55 (s, CH3); 3.92 (d, CH); 7.04 and 7.22 (2xd, 2H-aromatic); 7.56 (t, H-aromatic); 8.33 (d, NH) 277 CDCl₃: 1.25-1.49 (m, 4H-adamantane); 1.45 (s, 3x CH₃); 1.54 (s, 2xCH₃); 1.64-2.04 (m, 10H-aromatic, CH₂); 2.43 (s, CH3); 2.60 and 2.91 (2xt, 2x CH₂); 3.22-3.57 (m, 8h- homopiperidine); 3.92 (d, CH); 5.47 (d, NH); 6.95 and 7.04 (2xs, 3H-aromatic). C. Pharmacological Examples

EXAMPLE C.1 Enzymatic Assays to Test the Effect of Compounds on 11b-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 and Type 2

The effects of compounds on 11β-HSD1 dependent conversion of cortisone into cortisol (reductase activity) was studied in a reaction mixture containing 30 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 7.2, 180 μM NADPH, 1 mM EDTA, 2 μM cortisone, 1 μl drug and/or solvent and 11 μg recombinant protein in a final volume of 100 μl.

The effect on the 11b-HSD1-dehydrogenase activity (conversion of cortisol into cortisone) was measured in a reaction mixture containing 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer pH 9.0, 300 μM NADP, 25 μM cortisol, 1 μl drug and/or solvent and 3.5 μg recombinant protein in a final volume of 100 μl.

The effects on the 11b-HSD2 dependent dehydrogenase activity was studied in a reaction mixture containing 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.5, 300 μM NAD, 100 nM cortisol (of which 2 nM is 3H-radio labelled), 1 μl drug and/or solvent and 2.5 μg recombinant protein in a final volume of 100 μl.

All incubations were performed for 45 min at 37 C in a water bath. The reaction was stopped by adding 100 μl acetonitrile containing 20 μg corticosterone as internal standard. After centrifugation, the product formation was analysed in the supernatant by HPLC on a Hypersyl BDS-C18 column using 0.05 mM ammonium acetate/methanol (50/50) as solvent. In all of the aforementioned assays, the drugs to be tested were taken from a stock solution and tested at a final concentration ranging from −10⁻⁵M to 3.10⁻⁹M. From the thus obtained dose response curves, the pIC50 value was calculated and scored as follows; Score 1=pIC50 value<5, Score 2=pIC50 value in the range of 5 to 6, Score 3=pIC50 value>6. Some of the thus obtained results are summarized in the table below. (in this table NT stands for Not Tested).

EXAMPLE C2 Cellular Assays to Test the Effect of Compounds on 11b-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 and Type 2

The effects on 11b-HSD1 activity was measured in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells and rat hepatocytes.

Mouse fibroblast 3T3-L1 cells (ATCC-CL-173) were seeded at a density of 16500 cells/ml in 12 well plates and grown for 7 days in DMEM medium (supplemented with 10% heat inactivated foetal calf serum, 2 mM glutamine and 25 mg gentamycin) at 37 C in a humidified 5% CO₂ atmosphere. Medium was refreshed twice a week. Fibroblasts were differentiated into adipocytes at 37 C in a 5% CO₂ humidified atmosphere in growth medium containing 2 μg/ml insulin, 55 μg/ml IBMX and 39.2 μg/ml dexamethasone.

Primary hepatocytes from male rats were seeded on BD-Biocoat Matrigel matrix multiwell plates at a density of 250000 cells/well and incubated for 10 days at 37 C in a 5% CO₂ humidified atmosphere in DMEM-HAM's F12 medium containing 5% Nu-serum, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 0.25 μg/ml amphotericin B, 50 μg/ml gentamycin sulfate, 5 μg/ml insulin and 392 ng/ml dexamethasone. Medium was refreshed 3 times a week.

Following a 4 hour pre-incubation with test compound, 0.5 μCi³H-cortisone or dehydrocorticosterone, was added to the cultures. One hour later, the medium was extracted on Extrelut³-columns with 15 ml diethyl ether and the extract was analysed by HPLC as described above.

The effects on 11b-HSD2 activity was studied in HepG2 and LCC-PK1-cells HepG2-cells (ATCC HB-8065) were seeded in 12 well plates at a density of 100,000 cells/ml and grown at 37 C in a humidified 5% CO₂ atmosphere in MEM-Rega-3 medium supplemented with 10% heat inactivated foetal calf serum, 2 mM L-glutamine and sodium bicarbonate). Medium was refreshed twice a week.

Pig kidney cells (LCC-PK1, ATCC CRL-1392) were seeded at a density of 150,000 cells/ml in 12 well plates and grown at 37 C in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere in Medium 199 supplemented with Earls modified salt solution, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 10% foetal calf serum. Medium was refreshed twice a week. Twenty four hours prior to the onset of the experiment, medium was changed by medium containing 10% charcoal stripped foetal calf serum.

Following a 4 hour pre-incubation with test compound, 0.5 μCi ³H-cortisol or corticosterone, was added to the cultures. One hour later, the medium was extracted on Extrelut³-columns with 15 ml diethyl ether and the extract was analysed by HPLC as described above.

As for the enzymatic assays, the compounds to be tested were taken from a stock solution and tested at a final concentration ranging from −10⁻⁵M to 3.10⁻⁹M. From the thus obtained dose response curves, the pIC50 value was calculated and scored as follows; Score 1=pIC50 value<5, Score 2=pIC50 value in the range of 5 to 6, Score 3=pIC50 value>6. Some of the thus obtained results are summarized in the table below. (in this table NT stands for Not Tested). [C2] [C2] HSD1 HSD2 [C1] HSD1- [C1] HSD2 cellular cellular Example Compound prot Reduct prot Dehydro 3T3-L1 HepG2 Number Number Score Score Score Score B3 16 NT 1 2 1 B12 19 NT 1 2 1 B12 22 NT 1 2 1 B1 1 NT 1 3 1 B1 28 NT NT 3 1 B1 29 NT NT 3 1 B1 30 NT NT 3 1 B13 31 NT 1 3 1 B13 35 NT 1 2 1 B1 41 3 1 3 1 B1 43 3 1 2 1 B1 46 1 1 3 1 B4 47 3 1 3 1 B4 48 1 1 3 1 B1 126 3 1 3 1 B1 127 1 1 3 1 B4 5 3 1 3 1 B1 50 1 1 2 1 B1 51 1 1 2 1 B1 52 1 1 3 1 B5 53 1 1 3 1 B5 54 2 1 3 1 B13 55 NT 1 3 1 B13 56 NT 1 2 1 B13 57 NT 1 2 1 B1 64 NT 1 2 1 B4 6 2 1 3 1 B6 128 3 1 3 1 B1 129 2 1 2 1 B1 68 2 1 2 1 B5 71 3 NT 3 1 B5 7 1 NT 3 1 B1 72 2 1 3 1 B5 73 1 1 3 1 B4 74 3 1 3 1 B1 133 1 1 3 1 B1 77 1 2 3 1 B1 78 3 2 3 1 B1 81 3 NT 2 1 B1 84 1 1 3 1 B1 85 1 1 3 1 B1 86 1 1 3 1 B1 87 1 1 3 1 B1 88 1 1 3 1 B1 89 3 1 3 1 B1 137 3 1 3 1 B1 138 1 1 3 1 B1 91 1 1 3 1 B1 151 2 1 3 1 B1 153 2 1 3 1 B1 140 3 1 3 1 B1 141 3 1 3 1 B5 92 3 1 3 1 B1 93 3 NT 3 1 B1 154 1 NT 3 1 B1 95 1 NT 3 1 B1 144 3 NT 3 1 B1 106 1 NT 3 1 B3 3 3 NT 3 1 B6 109 3 NT 3 1 B1 162 3 1 3 1 B18 166 3 1 3 1 B1 167 3 1 3 1 B1 168 3 1 3 1 B1 169 3 1 3 1 B1 171 3 1 3 1 B1 177 3 1 3 1 B1 181 1 1 3 1 B1 182 3 1 3 1 B1 158 1 1 3 1 B15 191 3 1 3 1 B16 193 3 1 3 1 B16 196 3 1 3 1 B1 197 1 1 3 1 B22 198 1 1 3 1 B1 203 1 1 3 1 B1 210 1 1 3 1 B22 217 2 1 3 1 B1 223 3 1 3 1 B1 224 3 1 3 1 B16 230 3 1 3 1 B20 236 3 1 3 1 B16 240 1 1 3 1 B16 242 2 1 3 1 B1 243 3 1 3 1 B16 248 3 1 3 1 B7 251 3 1 3 1 B14 253 NT 1 3 1 B16 254 1 1 3 1 B23 255 NT 1 3 1 B16 258 3 1 3 1 B7 263 1 1 3 1 D. Composition Examples

The following formulations exemplify typical pharmaceutical compositions suitable for systemic or topical administration to animal and human subjects in accordance with the present invention.

“Active ingredient” (A.I.) as used throughout these examples relates to a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt thereof.

EXAMPLE D.1 Film-Coated Tablets

Preparation of Tablet Core

A mixture of A.I. (100 g), lactose (570 g) and starch (200 g) was mixed well and thereafter humidified with a solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (5 g) and polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (10 g) in about 200 ml of water. The wet powder mixture was sieved, dried and sieved again. Then there was added microcrystalline cellulose (100 g) and hydrogenated vegetable oil (15 g). The whole was mixed well and compressed into tablets, giving 10.000 tablets, each comprising 10 mg of the active ingredient.

Coating

To a solution of methyl cellulose (10 g) in denaturated ethanol (75 ml) there was added a solution of ethyl cellulose (5 g) in CH₂Cl₂ (150 ml). Then there were added CH₂Cl₂ (75 ml) and 1,2,3-propanetriol (2.5 ml). Polyethylene glycol (10 g) was molten and dissolved in dichloromethane (75 ml). The latter solution was added to the former and then there were added magnesium octadecanoate (2.5 g), polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (5 g) and concentrated color suspension (30 ml) and the whole was homogenated. The tablet cores were coated with the thus obtained mixture in a coating apparatus. 

1. A compound having the formula

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; m represents an integer being 0 or 1; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, Het³-O—C₁₋₄alkyl; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a carbonyl, or a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents hydrogen, Ar¹, C₁₋₈alkyl, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

 wherein said Ar¹, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two or three substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo, carbonyl,  1,3-dioxolyl or hydroxy; R⁴ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, or C₂₋₄alkenyl; Q represents C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar², wherein said C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy, C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from C₁₋₄alkyl, hydroxycarbonyl, Het², C₁₋₄alkyl or NR⁷R⁸,  C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl or Het⁵-carbonyl, and  C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents independently selected from halo, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy-C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, and C₁₋₄alkyloxy or R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with phenyl; R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl; L represents C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected from C₁₋₄alkyl or phenyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, piperinidyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, benzothiophenyl, thiophenyl, 1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, phthalazinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl,  2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl,  2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, furanyl, tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl, or furanyl; Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁴ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each idependently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Het⁵ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁵ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; in particular piperazinyl or morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁷ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; in particular selected piperazinyl or morpholinyl; Ar¹ represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, fluorenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphtyl or naphthyl Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl, benzocyclobutenyl, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, fluorenyl, 1,2-dihydronaphthyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl.
 2. A compound having the formula

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; m represents an integer being 0 or 1; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, Het³-O—C₁₋₄alkyl; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a carbonyl, or a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents hydrogen, Ar¹, C₁₋₈alkyl, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

 wherein said Ar¹, C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two or three substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo, carbonyl, 1,3-dioxolyl or hydroxy; R⁴ represents hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; Q represents C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar², wherein said C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, and  C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo substituents; R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, and C₁₋₄alkyloxy or R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with phenyl; R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; L represents C₁₋₄alkyl optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected from C₁₋₄alkyl or phenyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, piperinidyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, benzothiophenyl, thiophenyl, 1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, phthalazinyl, or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl,  2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or morpholinyl; Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, furanyl, tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl, or furanyl; Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁴ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each idependently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Ar¹ represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, fluorenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphtyl or naphtyl Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, fluorenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphtyl or naphtyl.
 3. A compound according to claim 1 wherein; n represents an integer being 1 or 2 provided that when n represents 2, Q represents Het¹ or Ar², wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo substituents
 4. A compound according to claim 1 wherein; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰; or  R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

 wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo, carbonyl, hydroxy, or 1,3-dioxolyl; Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, dimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo substituents. R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; L represents a C₁₋₄alkyl, preferably methyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo-pyranyl, 2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or  1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more C₁₋₄alkyl substituents; Het⁴ represents tetrazolyl; Het⁵ represents morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more hydroxy substituents, preferably with one hydroxy substituent; Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl.
 5. A compound according to claim 1 wherein; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo, carbonyl, hydroxy, or 1,3-dioxolyl; Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from halo,  C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, Het⁴, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸,  C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl or Het⁵-carbonyl and  C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, dimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo substituents. R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; L represents a C₁₋₄alkyl, preferably methyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, indolyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl,  3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more C₁₋₄alkyl substituents; Het⁴ represents tetrazolyl; Het⁵ represents morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more hydroxy substituents, preferably with one hydroxy substituent; Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperazinyl or morpholinyl, preferably morpholinyl; Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl.
 6. A compound according to claim 1 wherein; n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably cylo-octanyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

 , preferably having the formula (a) or (b) above, wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from  halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, NR⁵R⁶,  C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two, three or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² or NR⁷R⁸, C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from phenyl-C₁₋₁₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl or Het ⁵-carbonyl  and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents selected from halo, Het⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; R⁹ and R¹⁰ each independently represent hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, piperidinyl, thiophenyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxol; Het² represents pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents morpholinyl; Ar² represents phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl, naphtyl or indenyl.
 7. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; (R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, C₁₋₄alkyloxy; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably selected from cylo-octanyl and cyclohexyl or R³ represents a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

 , preferably having the formula (a) above, wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; R⁴ represents hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; Q represents Het¹ or A² wherein said C₃₋₈cycloalkyl, Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, NR⁵R⁶,  C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two, three or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² or NR⁷R⁸, C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl  and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents selected from, halo, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, or C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with phenyl; L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, thiophenyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperazinyl or morpholinyl, preferably morpholinyl; Ar² represents phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 1,2-dihydronaphthyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl, naphtyl or indenyl.
 8. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein the compound is (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-methyl-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-methoxy-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3,5-dimethyl-benzeneacetamide); (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-3-(phenylmethoxy)benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-(carboxymethoxy)-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-hydroxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethoxy]-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2α,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-fluorotricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-methoxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetamide; (1α,2β,3β,5β,7β)-N-(5-methoxytricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-(carboxymethoxy)-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-[2-(4-morpholinyl)ethoxy]-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3,5-dimethoxy-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-methyl-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-methoxy-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-3,5-dimethyl-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-4-fluoro-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-1-phenyl-cyclopropanecarboxamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-2,6-difluoro-benzeneacetamide; N-(tricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]dec-2-yl)-α,α-dimethyl-2-thiopheneacetamide; N-(5-hydroxy-2-adamantyl)-2-methyl-2-(5-methylpyridin-3-yl)propanamide; N-(5-hydroxy-2-adamantyl)-2-methyl-2-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)propanamide; 3-(3-{2-[(5-fluoro-2-adamantyl)amino]-1,1-dimethyl-2-oxoethyl}-5-methylphenyl)propanoic acid; 4-(3-{2-[(5-hydroxy-2-adamantyl)amino]-1,1-dimethyl-2-oxoethyl}-5-methylphenyl)butanoic acid; tert-butyl-4-[3-(3-{2-[(5-hydroxy-2-adamantyl)amino]-1,1-dimethyl-2-oxoethyl}-5-methylphenyl)propanoyl]-1,4-diazepane-1-carboxylate; N-(5-hydroxy-2-adamantyl)-5-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-carboxamide; N-2-adamantyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxamide; N-(5-hydroxy-2-adamantyl)-3,4-dihydroquinoline-1(2H)-carboxamide; or a N-oxide, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or a stereochemically isomeric form thereof.
 9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, as active ingredient, an effective ₁₁β-HSD1 inhibitory amount of a compound of claim
 1. 10. A process of preparing a pharmaceutical composition as defined in claim 9, characterized in that, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is intimately mixed with an effective ₁₁β-HSD1 inhibitory amount of a compound of claim
 1. 11. (canceled)
 12. A method of treating pathologies associated with excess cortisol formation selected from the group consisting of obesity, diabetes, obesity related cardiovascular diseases, dementia, cognition, osteoporosis and glaucoma comprsing adminsitering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 13. A compound of formula (I′)

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof wherein R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰, C₁₋₄alkyloxy or Het³-O—C₁₋₄alkyl; preferably C₁₋₄alkyl in particular methyl; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached from a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, in particular cyclopropyl or cyclobutyl; R⁴ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₂₋₄alkenyl; U represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo, carbonyl or hydroxy R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, and C₁₋₄alkyloxy or R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with phenyl; R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; R¹¹ and R¹² are each independently selected from hydrogen, halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, Het⁵-carbonyl, and  C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents independently selected from halo, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, piperinidyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, furanyl, benzofuranyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, benzothiophenyl, thiophenyl, 1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, phthalazinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, furanyl, tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl, or furanyl; Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁴ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Het⁵ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁵ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; preferably piperazinyl or morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁷ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; preferably piperazinyl or morpholinyl; in particular morpholinyl.
 14. A compound of formula (I″)

the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein R⁴ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₂₋₄alkenyl; U represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, phenyl, halo, oxo, carbonyl or hydroxy Q represents Het¹ or Ar², wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, and  C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents independently selected from halo or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxyC₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, and C₁₋₄alkyloxy or R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with phenyl; R⁷ and R⁸ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; Het¹ represents a bicyclic heterocycle selected from indolyl, isoindolyl, indolinyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, 1,8-naphthyridinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, phthalazinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolinyl, 3-pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, or morpholinyl, said Het optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Het³ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from 2H-pyranyl, 4H-pyranyl, furanyl, tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, pyridinyl, piperidinyl, or furanyl; Het⁴ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁴ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents each idependently selected from hydroxy, carbonyl, C₁₋₄alkyl or C₁₋₄alkyloxy; Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing two rings selected from the group consisting of benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosurbenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphtyl or naphthyl.
 15. (canceled)
 16. A method of treating pathologies associated with excess cortisol formation selected from the group consisting of obesity, diabetes, obesity related cardiovascular diseases, dementia, cognition, osteoporosis and glaucoma comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeuically effective amount of a compound of claim
 13. 17. A method to prepare 1-hydroxy-4-aminoadamantane said method comprising i) reductively aminating a corresponding ketone (XIII) to obtain stereomers of an amine of formula (XVIII); ii) separating the thus obtained stereomers of the amine of formula (XVIII); and iii) debenzylating the compounds of formula (XVIII)


18. A compound according to claim 2 wherein; n represents an integer being 1 or 2 provided that when n represents 2, Q represents Het¹ or Ar², wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible more substituents selected from halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, nitro, Het⁴, phenyl, phenyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, NR⁵R⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸, and
 19. A compound according to claim 2 wherein; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo, carbonyl, hydroxy, or 1,3-dioxolyl; Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from halo,  C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, Het⁴, NR⁵R⁶,  C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸,  C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl or Het⁵-carbonyl and  C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, dimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo substituents. R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; L represents a C₁₋₄alkyl, preferably methyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, indolyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more C₁₋₄alkyl substituents; Het⁴ represents tetrazolyl; Het⁵ represents morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more hydroxy substituents, preferably with one hydroxy substituent; Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperazinyl or morpholinyl, preferably morpholinyl; Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl.
 20. A compound according to claim 3 wherein; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo, carbonyl, hydroxy, or 1,3-dioxolyl; Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from halo,  C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl, Het⁴, NR⁵R⁶,  C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² and NR⁷R⁸,  C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl or Het⁵-carbonyl and  C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents each independently selected from halo, dimethylamine, amine, cyano, Het⁶, Het⁷-carbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl, C₁₋₄alkylcarbonyl substituted with one or where possible two or three halo substituents. R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each independently selected from hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; L represents a C₁₋₄alkyl, preferably methyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, indolyl, thiophenyl, benzothiophenyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl,  3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 2H-benzothiopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxolyl; Het² represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl, said Het² optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more C₁₋₄alkyl substituents; Het⁴ represents tetrazolyl; Het⁵ represents morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from pyrrolidinyl, piperazinyl or morpholinyl, said Het⁶ optionally being substituted with one or where possible two or more hydroxy substituents, preferably with one hydroxy substituent; Het⁷ represents a monocyclic heterocycle selected from piperazinyl or morpholinyl, preferably morpholinyl; Ar² represents carbocyclic radicals containing one or more rings selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, indenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl or naphthyl.
 21. A compound according to claim 2 wherein; n represents an integer being 0, 1 or 2; R¹ and R² each independently represents hydrogen, C₁₋₄alkyl, NR⁹R¹⁰; or R¹ and R² taken together with the carbon atom with which they are attached form a C₃₋₆cycloalkyl; and where n is 2, either R¹ or R² may be absent to form an unsaturated bond; R³ represents a C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl, preferably cylo-octanyl or a monovalent radical having one of the following formulae

 , preferably having the formula (a) or (b) above, wherein said C₆₋₁₂cycloalkyl or monovalent radical may optionally be substituted with one, or where possible two, three or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, halo or hydroxy; Q represents Het¹ or Ar² wherein said Het¹ or Ar² are optionally substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from  halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₁₋₄alkyloxy, hydroxy, NR⁵R⁶,  C₁₋₄alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two, three or more substituents each independently selected from hydroxycarbonyl, Het² or NR⁷R⁸,  C₂₋₄alkenyl substituted with one substituent selected from phenyl-C₁₋₄alkyl-oxycarbonyl or Het⁵-carbonyl  and C₁₋₄alkyl substituted with one or where possible two or three substituents selected from halo, Het⁶, C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl or hydroxycarbonyl; R⁵ and R⁶ each independently represent hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyl; R⁹ and R¹⁰ each independently represent hydrogen or C₁₋₄alkyloxycarbonyl; L represents C₁₋₄alkyl; Het¹ represents a heterocycle selected from pyridinyl, piperidinyl, thiophenyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-isoquinolinyl, 2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzopyranyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzothiopyranyl or 1,3-benzodioxol; Het² represents pyridinyl, pyrrolidinyl or morpholinyl; Het⁶ represents morpholinyl; Ar² represents phenyl, benzocyclobutene, benzocycloheptanyl, benzosuberenyl, 2,3-dihydroindenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl, naphtyl or indenyl.
 22. A method of treating pathologies associated with excess cortisol formation selected from the goup consisting of obesity, diabetes, obesity related cardiovascular diseases, dementia, cognition, osteoporosis and glaucoma comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeuically effective amount of a compound of claim
 14. 